Pennsylvania HB 744: An Act amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial disclosure, further providing for definitions and for restricted activities, providing for gift ban and for gift ban exceptions and further providing for statement of financial interests.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 770
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 744
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, RIGBY, VENKAT, HILL-EVANS, M. MACKENZIE,
HADDOCK, HANBIDGE, MADSEN, SAPPEY, D. WILLIAMS, BONNER,
FIEDLER, STEELE, SHUSTERMAN, GREEN, FINK, GILLEN AND O'MARA,
MARCH 3, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial
disclosure, further providing for definitions and for
restricted activities, providing for gift ban and for gift
ban exceptions and further providing for statement of
financial interests.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "person" in section 1102 of
Title 65 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended
and the section is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 1102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Cash." United States currency and coin and foreign currency
and coin.
* * *
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"Lobbyist." Any individual, association, corporation,
partnership, business trust or other entity that engages in
lobbying on behalf of a principal for economic consideration and
that is registered under Chapter 13A (relating to lobbying
disclosure). The term includes an attorney at law while engaged
in lobbying.
* * *
"Person." A business, governmental body, individual,
including an individual lobbyist or employee of a lobbyist,
corporation, union, association, firm, partnership, committee,
club or other organization or group of persons.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1103(b) and (c) of Title 65 are amended
to read:
§ 1103. Restricted activities.
* * *
(b) Seeking improper influence.--No person shall offer or
give to a public official, public employee or nominee or
candidate for public office or a member of his immediate family
or a business with which he is associated anything of monetary
value, including a gift, loan, political contribution, reward or
promise of future employment, or any valuable consideration
under section 1103.2 (relating to gift ban exceptions), based on
the offeror's or donor's understanding that the vote, official
action or judgment of the public official or public employee or
nominee or candidate for public office would be influenced
thereby.
(c) Accepting improper influence.--No public official,
public employee or nominee or candidate for public office shall
solicit or accept anything of monetary value, including a gift,
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loan, political contribution, reward or promise of future
employment, or any valuable consideration under section 1103.2,
based on any understanding of that public official, public
employee or nominee that the vote, official action or judgment
of the public official or public employee or nominee or
candidate for public office would be influenced thereby.
* * *
Section 3. Title 65 is amended by adding sections to read:
§ 1103.1. Gift ban.
Except as provided in section 1103.2 (relating to gift ban
exceptions), to help ensure that a person may not seek or accept
improper influence in accordance with section 1103 (relating to
restricted activities), a public official, public employee or
nominee or candidate for public office may not receive, accept,
take, seek or solicit any of the following:
(1) Gifts , other than gifts of cash, having either an
aggregate fair market value or aggregate actual cost greater
than $50 from any one person in a calendar year.
(2) A gift of cash.
§ 1103.2. Gift ban exceptions.
The prohibitions listed in section 1103.1 (relating to gift
ban) shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) A gift or any hospitality, transportation or lodging
from any of the following:
(i) A parent, sibling, spouse, child, stepchild,
stepparent, stepsibling, grandparent, grandchild, parent-
in-law, sibling-in-law or other family member or friend
when the circumstances make it clear that the motivation
for the gift or hospitality, transportation or lodging
was a personal or family relationship. The exception
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under this subparagraph does not apply to a gift of cash
to a nominee or candidate for public office. For the
purposes of this subparagraph, the term "friend" does not
include a lobbyist or an employee of a lobbyist.
(ii) A lobbyist or employee of a lobbyist for the
celebration of a major life event, including a wedding,
graduation or the birth of a child.
(iii) A lobbyist or employee of a lobbyist if the
public official, public employee or nominee or candidate
for public office who receives the gift or hospitality,
transportation or lodging is involved in