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PRINTER'S NO. 114
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
132
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY EICHELBERGER, BREWSTER, VULAKOVICH, SCHWANK,
RAFFERTY, FARNESE AND AUMENT, JANUARY 20, 2017
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 20, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial
disclosure, prohibiting certain transportation, lodging,
hospitality and gifts.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 65 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 1103.1. Transportation, lodging, hospitality and gifts.
(a) General rule.--No public official or employee may
solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any transportation,
lodging or hospitality or anything of economic value as a gift
from a person who:
(1) has or is seeking a contractual, business or
financial relationship with the public official's or
employee's governing body, including the acquisition of a
grant or loan;
(2) is compensated to influence the passage or defeat of
legislation by the public official's or employee's
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governmental body;
(3) conducts operations or activities that are regulated
by the public official's or employee's governmental body; or
(4) has an economic interest that may be substantially
affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public
official's or employee's official job duties.
(b) Exceptions.--The prohibition stated under subsection (a)
shall not apply to the following:
(1) a gift, devise, bequest, intestate estate
distribution or principal distribution of a trust, from a
relative or friend, unless the relative or friend is in a
restricted relationship as delineated under subsection (a).
The term "friend" shall not include a registered lobbyist or
principal;
(2) a "contribution," as defined in section 1621 of the
act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the
Pennsylvania Election Code, lawfully made under that act;
(3) informational material that is sent to the office of
the public official in the form of a book, article,
periodical, other written material, audiotape, videotape or
other forms of communication for nonentertainment purposes;
(4) an award or prize that is given to competitors in a
contest or event open to the public, including random
drawings;
(5) an honorary degree and award and associated travel,
food, refreshments and entertainment provided in the
presentation of the degree and award;
(6) training provided to a public official or public
employee, if the training is in the interest of the
governmental entity. This paragraph shall include food and
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refreshments furnished to all attendees as an integral part
of the training;
(7) an educational mission, including a meeting with
government officials, either foreign or domestic, intended to
educate a public official on matters of public policy, to
which the public official may be invited to participate along
with other Federal, State or local public officials and
community leaders;
(8) anything paid for by the Federal, State or other
government or governmental entity under a government
contract;
(9) a plaque, trophy or other item that is substantially
commemorative in nature and has minimal value. Also a gift of
nominal value, for example, a greeting card, pen, cap or t-
shirt; or
(10) light food or refreshments, such as hors d'oeuvres,
in a group setting and intended for mass consumption and not
intended for the consumption by a specific individual. Also
complimentary attendance and food or beverage at a bona fide
charitable or political event.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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