Pennsylvania HB 556: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of vehicles, providing for special farmland preservation registration plate and for the use of a portion of the fee for the plate.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 557
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 556
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, HANBIDGE, VENKAT, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS,
FIEDLER, STEELE AND SHUSTERMAN, FEBRUARY 11, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 11, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial
disclosure, prohibiting certain transportation, lodging,
hospitality, cash and gifts 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 a section to read:
§ 1103.1. Transportation, lodging, hospitality, cash and gifts.
(a) General rule.--A public official or public employee or
the spouse of a public official or public employee may not
solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any transportation,
lodging, hospitality, cash, gift or anything of economic value
as a gift from a person who:
(1) Has or is seeking a contractual, business or
financial relationship with the public official's or public
employee's governmental body, including the acquisition of a
grant or loan.
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(2) Is compensated to influence the passage or defeat of
legislation by the public official's or public employee's
governmental body.
(3) Conducts operations or activities which are
regulated by the public official's or public employee's
governmental body.
(4) Has an economic interest which may be substantially
affected by the performance or nonperformance of the public
official's or public employee's official job duties.
(b) Exceptions.--The prohibition stated in subsection (a)
shall not apply to the following:
(1) Gifts from a relative or friend, unless the relative
or friend is in a restricted relationship as delineated in
subsection (a). For the purposes of this paragraph, the term
"friend" shall not include a registered lobbyist or
principal.
(2) A contribution as defined in section 1621(b) 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 academic degrees and academic awards from
not-for-profit educational institutions in this Commonwealth
and associated travel, food, refreshments and entertainment
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provided in the presentation of the academic degrees and
academic awards. Associated travel, food, refreshments and
entertainment provided in the presentation of academic
degrees and academic awards shall be reported in accordance
with section 1105(b) (relating to statement of financial
interests).
(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. Training provided under this paragraph and
food and refreshments furnished to attendees as an integral
part of the training shall be reported in accordance with
section 1105(b). The exception under this paragraph shall not
apply in any of the following circumstances:
(i) The organization sponsoring the training is
funded or sponsored, directly or indirectly, by a
registered lobbyist or principal.
(ii) The public official or public employee or the
spouse of the public official or public employee is
prohibited from soliciting or accepting transportation,
lodging, hospitality, cash, a gift or anything of
economic value as a gift from the organization sponsoring
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. Transportation, lodging, hospitality,
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cash, a gift or anything of economic value received as a gift
as part of an educational mission shall be reported in
accordance with section 1105(b). The exception under this
paragraph shall not apply in any of the following
circumstances:
(i) T he organization sponsoring the educational
mission is funded or sponsored, directly or indirectly,
by a registered lobbyist or principal.
(ii) The public official or public employee or the
spouse of the public official or public empl