PRINTER'S NO. 787
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
646
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BREWSTER AND KEARNEY, MAY 13, 2019
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 13, 2019
AN ACT
Prohibiting certain gifts to members of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Prohibition of certain gifts and favors.
Except as provided in section 2, no member of the General
Assembly may solicit or accept for the personal use of the
member or another individual a gift, gratuity, favor,
entertainment, hospitality, loan or other thing of monetary
value, including in-kind gifts, from a person who:
(1) Seeks to obtain business from or has financial
relations with the General Assembly or the Commonwealth.
(2) Conducts operations or activities that are regulated
by the General Assembly or the Commonwealth.
(3) Engages, either as principal or attorney, in
proceedings before the Commonwealth or in court proceedings
in which a member, the General Assembly or the Commonwealth
is an adverse party.
(4) Has interests that may be substantially affected by
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the performance or nonperformance of the official duty of the
member.
Section 2. Applicability.
The provisions of section 1 shall not apply to:
(1) The solicitation or acceptance of something of
monetary value from a friend, parent, spouse, child or other
close relative of a member of the General Assembly under
circumstances which make it clear that the gift is motivated
by a family relationship or personal friendship rather than
the position or official duties of the member. Relevant
factors in making this determination include the history of
the relationship, including whether the friendship predates
the member's first term elected to the General Assembly and
whether the family member or friend pays for the gift.
(2) The acceptance of loans from banks or other
financial institutions on customary terms of finance for
proper and usual activities, including home-mortgage loans.
(3) Participation in widely attended gatherings free of
charge when members have been invited and are acting in
furtherance of the member's official duties. This paragraph
shall not apply to the acceptance of food or drink without a
member's payment at market value.
Section 3. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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