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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY SACCONE, BENNINGHOFF, CREIGHTON, MULLERY, ROCK, SIMMONS, SWANGER AND TRUITT, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania |
2 | Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial |
3 | disclosure, prohibiting certain transportation, lodging and |
4 | hospitality; providing for exceptions; and further providing |
5 | for statement of financial interests. |
6 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
7 | hereby enacts as follows: |
8 | Section 1. Title 65 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated |
9 | Statutes is amended by adding sections to read: |
10 | § 1103.1. Transportation, lodging and hospitality. |
11 | (a) General rule.--No person from whom a public official or |
12 | a public employee is prohibited under this chapter from |
13 | receiving any gift of economic value shall provide the public |
14 | servant with more than $100 in transportation, lodging or |
15 | hospitality at any single or series of events occurring within a |
16 | 24-hour period. The amount of the transportation, hospitality or |
17 | lodging shall not exceed $100, regardless of the number of |
18 | persons or entities providing the food, drink or refreshments. |
19 | (b) Annual limit.--In no event shall such person provide |
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1 | transportation, hospitality or lodging to a public official or |
2 | public employee valued at more than $650 in the aggregate during |
3 | the calendar year. |
4 | (c) Calculation of limit.--Where a group of public officials |
5 | or public employees are invited to an event, the $100 limit is |
6 | calculated by dividing the total cost of the food, drink and |
7 | refreshments by the number of persons invited to the event. |
8 | § 1103.2. Exceptions. |
9 | The prohibition stated in section 1103.1 (relating to |
10 | transportation, lodging and hospitality) shall not apply to the |
11 | following: |
12 | (1) Gifts or other things of value from a relative or |
13 | friend, unless the relative or friend is in a restricted |
14 | relationship as delineated in section 1103.1. The term |
15 | "friend" shall not include a registered lobbyist or |
16 | principal. |
17 | (2) A contribution, as defined in section 1621 of the |
18 | act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the |
19 | Pennsylvania Election Code, lawfully made under that act. |
20 | (3) Informational materials that are sent to the office |
21 | of the public official in the form of books, articles, |
22 | periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, videotapes |
23 | or other forms of communication for nonentertainment |
24 | purposes. |
25 | (4) Awards or prizes that are given to competitors in |
26 | contests or events open to the public, including random |
27 | drawings. |
28 | (5) Honorary degrees and awards and associated travel, |
29 | food, refreshments and entertainment provided in the |
30 | presentation of the degrees and awards. |
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1 | (6) Training provided to a public official or public |
2 | employee, if the training is in the interest of the |
3 | governmental entity. This paragraph shall include food and |
4 | refreshments furnished to all attendees as an integral part |
5 | of the training. |
6 | (7) An educational mission, including a meeting with |
7 | government officials, either foreign or domestic, intended to |
8 | educate public officials on matters of public policy, to |
9 | which the public official may be invited to participate along |
10 | with other Federal, State or local public officials and |
11 | community leaders. |
12 | (8) Anything paid for by the Federal, State or other |
13 | government or governmental entity under a government |
14 | contract. |
15 | (9) A plaque, trophy or other item that is substantially |
16 | commemorative in nature and has minimal value. |
17 | Section 2. Section 1105(b)(7) of Title 65 is amended to |
18 | read: |
19 | § 1105. Statement of financial interests. |
20 | * * * |
21 | (b) Required information.--The statement shall include the |
22 | following information for the prior calendar year with regard to |
23 | the person required to file the statement: |
24 | * * * |
25 | (7) The name and address of the source and the amount of |
26 | any payment for or reimbursement of actual expenses for |
27 | transportation and lodging or hospitality received in |
28 | connection with public office or employment, not otherwise |
29 | prohibited by this chapter, where such actual expenses for |
30 | transportation and lodging or hospitality exceed $650 in an |
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1 | aggregate amount per year. This paragraph shall not apply to |
2 | expenses reimbursed by a governmental body or to expenses |
3 | reimbursed by an organization or association of public |
4 | officials or employees of political subdivisions which the |
5 | public official or employee serves in an official capacity. |
6 | * * * |
7 | Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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