THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY JOSEPHS, BENNINGHOFF, CARROLL, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, KAVULICH, MURT, SANTARSIERO, SWANGER AND THOMAS, APRIL 27, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 27, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled

"An act concerning elections, including general, municipal,

special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates,

primary and election expenses and election contests; creating

and defining membership of county boards of elections;

imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth,

courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners;

imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying,

revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and

repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to

elections," in primary and election expenses, further

providing for the definition of "expenditure."

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1621(d) of the act of June 3, 1937

(P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code,

added October 4, 1978 (P.L.893, No.171), is amended to read:

Section 1621.  Definitions.--As used in this article, the

following words have the following meanings:

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(d)  The word "expenditure" shall mean:

(1)  The payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money

or any valuable thing by a candidate, political committee or

other person for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an

election. The payment, distribution, loan or advancement of

money or any valuable thing must be made only for legitimate and

verifiable campaign expenses and not for any inherently personal

purpose. "Inherently personal purpose" means a purpose that, by

its nature, confers a personal benefit, including a home

mortgage, rent, utility payment, clothing purchase, noncampaign

automobile expense, country club membership, vacation or a trip

of a noncampaign nature, household food items, tuition payments,

admission to a sporting event, concert, theater or other form of

entertainment;

(2)  The payment, distribution, loan, advance or transfer of

money or other valuable thing between or among political

committees;

(3)  The providing of a service or other valuable thing for

the purpose of influencing the outcome of a nomination or

election of any person to any public office to be voted for in

this Commonwealth; or

(4)  The payment or providing of money or other valuable

thing by any person other than a candidate or political

committee, to compensate any person for services rendered to a

candidate or political committee.

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