1Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial
3disclosure, prohibiting certain gifts and providing for
4exceptions.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1. Title 65 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
8Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:

9§ 1103.1. Gifts.

10No public official or employee shall solicit or accept,
11directly or indirectly, anything of economic value as a gift or
12gratuity from any person who:

13(1) Has or is seeking a contractual, business or
14financial relationship with the public official's or
15employee's governing body, including the acquisition of a
16grant or loan.

17(2) Is compensated to influence the passage or defeat of
18legislation by the public official's or employee's
19governmental body.

1(3) Conducts operations or activities which are
2regulated by the public official's or employee's governmental
3body.

4(4) Has an economic interest which may be substantially
5affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public
6official's or employee's official job duties.

7§ 1103.2. Exceptions.

8The prohibition stated in section 1103.1 (relating to gifts)
9shall not apply to the following:

10(1) Gifts or other things of value from a relative or
11friend, unless the relative or friend is in a restricted
12relationship as delineated in section 1103.1. The term
13"friend" shall not include a registered lobbyist or
14principal.

15(2) A "contribution", as defined in section 1621 of the
16act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the
17Pennsylvania Election Code, lawfully made under that act.

18(3) Informational materials that are sent to the office
19of the public official in the form of books, articles,
20periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, videotapes
21or other forms of communication for nonentertainment
22purposes.

23(4) Awards or prizes that are given to competitors in
24contests or events open to the public, including random
25drawings.

26(5) Honorary degrees and awards and associated travel,
27food, refreshments and entertainment provided in the
28presentation of the degrees and awards.

29(6) Training provided to a public official or public
30employee, if the training is in the interest of the

1governmental entity. This paragraph shall include food and
2refreshments furnished to all attendees as an integral part
3of the training.

4(7) An educational mission, including a meeting with
5government officials, either foreign or domestic, intended to
6educate public officials on matters of public policy, to
7which the public official may be invited to participate along
8with other Federal, State or local public officials and
9community leaders.

10(8) Anything paid for by the Federal, State or other
11government or governmental entity under a government
12contract.

13(9) A plaque, trophy or other item that is substantially
14commemorative in nature and has minimal value.

15Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.