Pennsylvania Ethics Act

§1103. Restricted activities

(a) Conflict of interest.--No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest.

(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 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, loan, political contribution, reward or promise of future employment 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.

"Gift." Anything which is received without consideration of equal or greater value. The term shall not include a political contribution otherwise reported as required by law or a commercially reasonable loan made in the ordinary course of business.

4. What to File: Filers are required to disclose financial information concerning the prior calendar year. No dollar amounts are required for any of these items except for gifts and certain reportable expense payments/
reimbursements.

The information to be disclosed pertains only to the filer and includes:


Gifts: The name and address of each source of gift(s) of $250 or more in the aggregate and the value and circumstances (including a description)of each such gift. Gifts from family members and certain friends are exempt. (A gift is defined as anything that is received without consideration of equal or greater value, excluding (1) political contribution(s) otherwise reportable as required by law; (2) commercially reasonable loan(s) made in the ordinary course of business; or (3) hospitality, transportation or lodging.)

• Transportation, Lodging or Hospitality Expenses:
The name and address of the source and the amount of each payment/reimbursement by the source for actual transportation, lodging or hospitality expenses received in connection with the public position where such payments/reimbursements exceed $650 in an aggregate amount for the reporting year. The filer is not required to report payments/reimbursements made by a governmental body or an organization/association of political subdivisions in which the filer serves in an official capacity. (The term “hospitality” is defined to include meals, beverages, and recreation or entertainment. It does not include gifts, transportation, or lodging.)