public function getModelValidationRules()
    {
        $optionsRules = $this->getOption('rules');

        //if the 'rules' option was provided for this model, it takes precedent
        if (is_array($optionsRules)) {
            return $optionsRules;
        }

        //otherwise look for the rules as a static property on the model
        return $rules = $this->getModelStaticValidationRules() ?: array();
    }