PRINTER'S NO. 265
No. 265 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY GERLACH, MOWERY, HECKLER, HELFRICK, ARMSTRONG, ULIANA, COSTA, BRIGHTBILL, WENGER, PUNT AND DELP, JANUARY 29, 1997
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JANUARY 29, 1997
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. L17L65PJP/19970S0265B0265 - 2 -