THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY SACCONE, BENNINGHOFF, CREIGHTON, MULLERY, ROCK, SIMMONS, SWANGER AND TRUITT, FEBRUARY 22, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 22, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial

disclosure, prohibiting certain transportation, lodging and

hospitality; providing for exceptions; and further providing

for statement of financial interests.

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 sections to read:

§ 1103.1.  Transportation, lodging and hospitality.

(a)  General rule.--No person from whom a public official or

a public employee is prohibited under this chapter from

receiving any gift of economic value shall provide the public

servant with more than $100 in transportation, lodging or

hospitality at any single or series of events occurring within a

24-hour period. The amount of the transportation, hospitality or

lodging shall not exceed $100, regardless of the number of

persons or entities providing the food, drink or refreshments.

(b)  Annual limit.--In no event shall such person provide

transportation, hospitality or lodging to a public official or

public employee valued at more than $650 in the aggregate during

the calendar year.

(c)  Calculation of limit.--Where a group of public officials

or public employees are invited to an event, the $100 limit is

calculated by dividing the total cost of the food, drink and

refreshments by the number of persons invited to the event.

§ 1103.2.  Exceptions.

The prohibition stated in section 1103.1 (relating to

transportation, lodging and hospitality) shall not apply to the

following:

(1)  Gifts or other things of value from a relative or

friend, unless the relative or friend is in a restricted

relationship as delineated in section 1103.1. 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 materials that are sent to the office

of the public official in the form of books, articles,

periodicals, other written materials, audiotapes, videotapes

or other forms of communication for nonentertainment

purposes.

(4)  Awards or prizes that are given to competitors in

contests or events open to the public, including random

drawings.

(5)  Honorary degrees and awards and associated travel,

food, refreshments and entertainment provided in the

presentation of the degrees and awards.

(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

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 public officials 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.

Section 2.  Section 1105(b)(7) of Title 65 is amended to

read:

§ 1105.  Statement of financial interests.

* * *

(b)  Required information.--The statement shall include the

following information for the prior calendar year with regard to

the person required to file the statement:

* * *

(7)  The name and address of the source and the amount of

any payment for or reimbursement of actual expenses for

transportation and lodging or hospitality received in

connection with public office or employment, not otherwise

prohibited by this chapter, where such actual expenses for

transportation and lodging or hospitality exceed $650 in an

aggregate amount per year. This paragraph shall not apply to

expenses reimbursed by a governmental body or to expenses

reimbursed by an organization or association of public

officials or employees of political subdivisions which the

public official or employee serves in an official capacity.

* * *

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.