SB 97 — An Act amending Titles 65 (Public Officers) and 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial disclosure, further providing for definitions, for restricted activities, for statement of financial interests and for penalties; in lobbying disclosure, further providing for definitions, for reporting and for penalties; and, in Turnpike Commission standards of conduct, further providing for code of conduct.

PRINTER'S NO.    52

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 97
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY BAKER, PENNYCUICK, PHILLIPS-HILL, FONTANA, COSTA,
        STEFANO AND SCHWANK, JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 22, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Titles 65 (Public Officers) and 74 (Transportation) of
 2      the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in ethics standards
 3      and financial disclosure, further providing for definitions,
 4      for restricted activities, for statement of financial
 5      interests and for penalties; in lobbying disclosure, further
 6      providing for definitions, for reporting and for penalties;
 7      and, in Turnpike Commission standards of conduct, further
 8      providing for code of conduct.
 9      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10   hereby enacts as follows:
11      Section 1.    The definitions of "aggregate" and "gift" in
12   section 1102 of Title 65 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
13   Statutes are amended and the section is amended by adding
14   definitions to read:
15   § 1102.    Definitions.
16      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
17   shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
18   meanings given to them in this section:
19      * * *
20      ["Aggregate."    The total of all gifts received from a single
21   source as provided in section 1105(b)(6) (relating to statement
 1   of financial interests).]
 2      * * *
 3      "Gift."      [As defined in section 13A03 (relating to
 4   definitions).] Money, virtual currency or a thing of value
 5   received, other than income, for which a consideration of equal
 6   or greater value is not received. The term shall not include the
 7   following:
 8             (1)   A gift from a person other than a principal or
 9      lobbyist that is valued at $50 or less. Gifts under this
10      paragraph shall be limited to $250 annually.
11             (2)   A political contribution reported in accordance with
12      law.
13             (3)   A gift from a parent, sibling, spouse, child,
14      stepchild, stepparent, stepsibling, grandparent, grandchild,
15      parent-in-law, sibling-in-law or other close relative when
16      the circumstances make it clear that the motivation for the
17      action was a personal or family relationship, including an
18      invitation to attend a personal or family social event.
19             (4)   A devise, bequest, intestate estate distribution or
20      principal distribution of a trust.
21             (5)   A gift available to the public or offered to members
22      of a group or class in which membership is not related to
23      being a public official or public employee.
24             (6)   An award or prize given to competitors in any
25      contest or event open to the public, including a random
26      drawing.
27             (7)   An award, plaque and other ceremonial item valued at
28      $100 or less that is publicly presented or intended to be
29      publicly presented in recognition of public service of the
30      type customarily bestowed at similar ceremonies or that are

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 1      otherwise reasonable.
 2          (8)    An honorary degree bestowed by a public or private
 3      college or university.
 4          (9)    A gift of nominal value, including, but not limited
 5      to, a greeting card, pen, cap or t-shirt.
 6          (10)     Informational material.
 7          (11)     An item paid for by Federal, State or local
 8      government.
 9          (12)     Complimentary attendance or food and beverage at a
10      bona fide charitable or political event.
11          (13)     Food and beverage for consumption at any of the
12      following:
13                 (i)    A public event, including a public meeting.
14                 (ii)    An event directly related to the official or
15          employee's duties or responsibilities.
16                 (iii)    An event where the official or employee is a
17          speaker or a member of a panel.
18                 (iv)    A regularly scheduled event sponsored by a
19          constituent, Federal organization, Statewide organization
20          or nonprofit organization.
21          (14)     Gifts exchanged between public officials and their
22      staffs on a voluntary basis.
23          (15)     Gifts given on the basis of legitimate personal
24      friendship.
25          (16)     Entertainment provided as part of an event at a
26      private residence for a nonofficial purpose.
27      * * *
28      "Lobbyist."       Any individual, association, corporation,
29   partnership, business trust or other entity that is registered
30   as a lobbyist under Chapter 13A (relating to lobbying

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 1   disclosure).
 2      * * *
 3      "Official action."     An administrative action or legislative
 4   action, as those terms are defined in section 13A03 or an
 5   equivalent action taken by a political subdivision.
 6      * * *
 7      "Principal."     Any individual, association, corporation,
 8   partnership, business trust or other entity that is registered
 9   as a principal under Chapter 13A.
10      * * *
11      "Virtual currency."     A digital representation of value that:
12             (1)   is used as a medium of exchange, unit of account or
13      store of value; and
14             (2)   is not legal tender, whether or not denominated in
15      legal tender.
16      Section 2.     Section 1103 of Title 65 is amended by adding a
17   subsection to read:
18   § 1103.    Restricted activities.
19      * * *
20      (k)    Gifts.--No public official or public employee shall
21   accept or solicit a gift from any of the following:
22             (1)   A lobbyist or principal.
23             (2)   A person that is seeking official action from the
24      public official or public employee.
25      Section 3.     Section 1105(b)(5), (6) and (7) of Title 65 are
26   amended to read:
27   § 1105.    Statement of financial interests.
28      * * *
29      (b)    Required information.--The statement shall include the
30   following information for the prior calendar year with regard to

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 1   the person required to file the statement:
 2          * * *
 3          [(5)     The name and address of any direct or indirect
 4      source of income totaling in the aggregate $1,300 or more.
 5      However, this provision shall not be construed to require the
 6      divulgence of confidential information protected by statute
 7      or existing professional codes of ethics or common law
 8      privileges.
 9          (6)    The name and address of the source and the amount of
10      any gift or gifts valued in the aggregate at $250 or more and
11      the circumstances of each gift. This paragraph shall not
12      apply to a gift or gifts received from a spouse, parent,
13      parent by marriage, sibling, child, grandchild, other family
14      member or friend when the circumstances make it clear that
15      the motivation for the action was a personal or family
16      relationship. However, for the purposes of this paragraph,
17      the term "friend" shall not include a registered lobbyist or
18      an employee of a registered lobbyist.
19          (7)    The name and address of the source and the amount of
20      any payment for or reimbursement of actual expenses for
21      transportation and lodging or hospitality received in
22      connection with public office or employment where such actual
23      expenses for transportation and lodging or hospitality exceed
24      $650 in an aggregate amount per year. This paragraph shall
25      not apply to expenses reimbursed by a governmental body or to
26      expenses reimbursed by an organization or association of
27      public officials or employees of political subdivisions which
28      the public official or employee serves in an official
29      capacity.]
30          * * *

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 1      Section 4.     Section 1109 of Title 65 is amended by adding a
 2   subsection to read:
 3   § 1109.    Penalties.
 4      * * *
 5      (a.1)    Gifts.--
 6             (1)   Any person who intentionally violates the provisions
 7      of section 1103(k) involving an amount of $250 or more
 8      commits a felony and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to
 9      pay a fine of not more than $10,000 plus costs or to
10      imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
11             (2)   A fine and penalty imposed under this section shall
12      be paid into the General Fund.
13      * * *
14      Section 5.     The definitions of "gift," "hospitality" and
15   "lobbying" in section 13A03 of Title 65 are amended to read:
16   § 13A03.    Definitions.
17      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
18   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
19   context clearly indicates otherwise:
20      * * *
21      ["Gift."     Anything which is received without consideration of
22   equal or greater value. The term shall not include a political
23   contribution otherwise reportable as required by law or a
24   commercially reasonable loan made in the ordinary course of
25   business. The term shall not include hospitality, transportation
26   or lodging.
27      "Hospitality."        Includes all of the following:
28             (1)   Meals.
29             (2)   Beverages.
30             (3)   Recreation and entertainment.

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 1   The term shall not include gifts, transportation or lodging.]
 2      * * *
 3      "Lobbying."         An effort to influence legislative action or
 4   administrative action in this Commonwealth. The term includes:
 5            (1)    [direct] Direct or indirect communication[;].
 6            (2)    [office] Office expenses[; and].
 7            [(3)    providing any gift, hospitality, transportation or
 8      lodging to a State official or employee for the purpose of
 9      advancing the interest of the lobbyist or principal.]
10      * * *
11      Section 6.      Sections 13A05(b)(2) and (3) and 13A09(g) of
12   Title 65 are amended to read:
13   § 13A05.    Reporting.
14      * * *
15      (b)     Content.--
16            * * *
17            (2)    Each expense report shall include the total costs of
18      all lobbying for the period. The total shall include all
19      office expenses, personnel expenses[, expenditures related to
20      gifts, hospitality, transportation and lodging to State
21      officials or employees,] and any other lobbying costs. The
22      total amount reported under this paragraph shall be allocated
23      in its entirety among the following categories:
24                   [(i)    The costs for gifts, hospitality,
25            transportation and lodging given to or provided to State
26            officials or employees or their immediate families.]
27                   (ii)    The costs for direct communication.
28                   (iii)    The costs for indirect communication.
29                   (iv)    Expenses required to be reported under this
30            subsection shall be allocated to one of the three

20250SB0097PN0052                        - 7 -
 1        categories listed under this section and shall not be
 2        included in more than one category.
 3        * * *
 4        [(3)    The following apply:
 5               (i)    In addition to reporting the totals required
 6        under this subsection, the expense report must identify,
 7        by name, position and each occurrence, a State official
 8        or employee who receives from a principal or lobbyist
 9        anything of value which must be included in the statement
10        under section 1105(b)(6) or (7) (relating to statement of
11        financial interests) as implemented by section 1105(d).
12               (ii)    For purposes of this chapter, the amount
13        referred to in section 1105(b)(7) shall be considered an
14        aggregate amount per year.
15               (iii)    For purposes of this chapter, the amount
16        referred to in section 1105(b)(7) shall not include the
17        cost of a reception which the State official or employee
18        attends in connection with public office or employment.
19               (iv)    Written notice must be given to each State
20        official or employee who is listed in an expense report
21        under this paragraph at least seven days prior to the
22        report's submission to the department. Notice under this
23        subparagraph shall include the information which will
24        enable the State official or employee to comply with
25        section 1105(b)(6) and (7). For purposes of this chapter
26        and Chapter 11 (relating to ethics standards and
27        financial disclosure), section 1105(b)(6) and (7) shall
28        constitute mutually exclusive categories. For each
29        category enumerated in paragraph (2)(i), each notice
30        shall include both the amount incurred during the quarter

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 1             and the cumulative amount incurred from January 1 through
 2             the end of the applicable quarter.
 3                   (v)    This paragraph shall not apply to anything of
 4             value received from immediate family when the
 5             circumstances make it clear that motivation for the
 6             action was the personal or family relationship.]
 7             * * *
 8   § 13A09.    Penalties.
 9      * * *
10      (g)     Affirmative defense.--[Any of the following is an
11   affirmative defense to an action brought under Chapter 11
12   (relating to ethics standards and financial disclosure) or this
13   chapter:
14             (1)   The respondent or defendant relied on advice and
15      opinions of the commission.
16             (2)   The respondent or defendant relied on notice under
17      section 13A05(b)(3)(iv) (relating to reporting).
18             (3)   The respondent or defendant did not receive notice
19      under section 13A05(b)(3)(iv).] The respondent or defendant
20      relying on advice and opinions of the commission is an
21      affirmative defense to an action brought under Chapter 11
22      (relating to ethics standards and financial disclosure) or
23      this chapter.
24      * * *
25      Section 7.         Section 8204(a)(1) of Title 74 is amended to
26   read:
27   § 8204.    Code of conduct.
28      (a)     Contents.--The commission shall adopt a comprehensive
29   code of conduct within 90 days of the effective date of this
30   section. The code of conduct shall supplement all other

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 1   requirements under this chapter and shall provide guidelines
 2   applicable to members and executive-level employees and the
 3   immediate families of the members and executive-level employees
 4   to enable them to avoid any perceived or actual conflict of
 5   interest and to promote public confidence in the integrity and
 6   impartiality of the commission. At a minimum, the code of
 7   conduct adopted under this section shall provide that:
 8          [(1)     No member or executive-level employee may accept
 9      any discount, gift, gratuity, compensation, travel, lodging
10      or other thing of value, in excess of the limits under 65
11      Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(6) and (7) (relating to statement of
12      financial interests) directly or indirectly, from any
13      facility or business with which the commission has a
14      contractual relationship.]
15          * * *
16      Section 8.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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