PRINTER'S NO. 235
No. 218 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY GERLACH, MOWERY, COSTA AND MELLOW,
JANUARY 26, 1999
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 26, 1999
AN ACT
1 Establishing limits on gifts for members of the General
2 Assembly.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Definitions.
6 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
7 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
8 context clearly indicates otherwise:
9 "Gift." A payment, subscription, advance, forbearance,
10 rendering or deposit of money, services or anything of value,
11 including food, lodging, transportation or entertainment, and
12 reimbursement for other than necessary expenses, unless
13 consideration of equal or greater value is received. The term
14 does not include:
15 (1) A political contribution otherwise reported as
16 required by law.
17 (2) A loan made in a commercially reasonable manner,
1 including requirements that the loan be repaid and that a
2 reasonable rate of interest be paid.
3 (3) A bequest, inheritance or other transfer at death.
4 (4) A bona fide award presented in recognition of public
5 service and available to the general public.
6 (5) A reception at which the member is to be honored,
7 provided the member receives no other gifts that exceed the
8 restrictions in this rule, other than a suitable memento.
9 (6) Meals or beverages consumed or enjoyed, provided the
10 meals or beverages are not consumed or enjoyed in connection
11 with a gift of overnight lodging.
12 Section 2. Gifts.
13 No member of the General Assembly shall knowingly accept,
14 directly or indirectly, any gift or gifts in any calendar year
15 aggregating more than $25 in value from any person, organization
16 or corporation. This prohibition shall not apply to gifts from
17 relatives.
18 Section 3. Return of gift.
19 If a member, after exercising reasonable diligence to obtain
20 the information necessary to comply with this rule, unknowingly
21 accepts a gift, the member shall, upon learning of the nature of
22 the gift and its source, return the gift or, if it is not
23 possible to return the gift, reimburse the donor for the value
24 of the gift.
25 Section 4. Effective date.
26 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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