1102 - Definitions.

     § 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:        "Advice."  Any directive of the chief counsel of the State     Ethics Commission issued under section 1107(11) (relating to     powers and duties of commission) and based exclusively on prior     commission opinions, this chapter, regulations promulgated     pursuant to this chapter and court opinions which interpret this     chapter.        "Aggregate."  The total of all gifts received from a single     source as provided in section 1105(b)(6) (relating to statement     of financial interests).        "Authority of office or employment."  The actual power     provided by law, the exercise of which is necessary to the     performance of duties and responsibilities unique to a     particular public office or position of public employment.        "Business."  Any corporation, partnership, sole     proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association,     organization, self-employed individual, holding company, joint     stock company, receivership, trust or any legal entity organized     for profit.        "Business with which he is associated."  Any business in     which the person or a member of the person's immediate family is     a director, officer, owner, employee or has a financial     interest.        "Candidate."  Any individual who seeks nomination or election     to public office by vote of the electorate, other than a judge     of elections, inspector of elections or official of a political     party, whether or not such individual is nominated or elected.     An individual shall be deemed to be seeking nomination or     election to such office if he has:            (1)  received a contribution or made an expenditure or        given his consent for any other person or committee to        receive a contribution or make an expenditure for the purpose        of influencing his nomination or election to such office,        whether or not the individual has announced the specific        office for which he will seek nomination or election at the        time the contribution is received or the expenditure is made;        or            (2)  taken the action necessary under the laws of this        Commonwealth to qualify himself for nomination or election to        such office.     The term shall include individuals nominated or elected as     write-in candidates unless they resign such nomination or     elected office within 30 days of having been nominated or     elected.        "Commission."  The State Ethics Commission.        "Confidential information."  Information not obtainable from     reviewing a public document or from making inquiry to a publicly     available source of information.        "Conflict" or "conflict of interest."  Use by a public     official or public employee of the authority of his office or     employment or any confidential information received through his     holding public office or employment for the private pecuniary     benefit of himself, a member of his immediate family or a     business with which he or a member of his immediate family is     associated. The term does not include an action having a de     minimis economic impact or which affects to the same degree a     class consisting of the general public or a subclass consisting     of an industry, occupation or other group which includes the     public official or public employee, a member of his immediate     family or a business with which he or a member of his immediate     family is associated.        "Contract."  An agreement or arrangement for the acquisition,     use or disposal by the Commonwealth or a political subdivision     of consulting or other services or of supplies, materials,     equipment, land or other personal or real property. The term     shall not mean an agreement or arrangement between the State or     political subdivision as one party and a public official or     public employee as the other party, concerning his expense,     reimbursement, salary, wage, retirement or other benefit, tenure     or other matters in consideration of his current public     employment with the Commonwealth or a political subdivision.        "De minimis economic impact."  An economic consequence which     has an insignificant effect.        "Executive-level State employee."  The Governor, Lieutenant     Governor, cabinet members, deputy secretaries, the Governor's     office staff, any State employee with discretionary powers which     may affect the outcome of a State agency's decision in relation     to a private corporation or business or any employee who by     virtue of his job function could influence the outcome of such a     decision.        "Financial interest."  Any financial interest in a legal     entity engaged in business for profit which comprises more than     5% of the equity of the business or more than 5% of the assets     of the economic interest in indebtedness.        "Findings report."  An initial report containing findings of     fact as determined by the State Ethics Commission's     investigation but not containing any conclusions of law or any     determination of whether there has been a violation of law.        "Frivolous complaint."  A complaint filed in a grossly     negligent manner without basis in law or fact.        "Gift."  As defined in section 13A03 (relating to     definitions).        "Governmental body."  Any department, authority, commission,     committee, council, board, bureau, division, service, office,     officer, administration, legislative body or other establishment     in the executive, legislative or judicial branch of a state, a     nation or a political subdivision thereof or any agency     performing a governmental function.        "Governmental body with which a public official or public     employee is or has been associated."  The governmental body     within State government or a political subdivision by which the     public official or employee is or has been employed or to which     the public official or employee is or has been appointed or     elected and subdivisions and offices within that governmental     body.        "Honorarium."  Payment made in recognition of published     works, appearances, speeches and presentations and which is not     intended as consideration for the value of such services which     are nonpublic occupational or professional in nature. The term     does not include tokens presented or provided which are of de     minimis economic impact.        "Hospitality."  As defined in section 13A03 (relating to     definitions).        "Immediate family."  A parent, spouse, child, brother or     sister.        "Income."  Any money or thing of value received or to be     received as a claim on future services or in recognition of     services rendered in the past, whether in the form of a payment,     fee, salary, expense, allowance, forbearance, forgiveness,     interest, dividend, royalty, rent, capital gain, reward,     severance payment, proceeds from the sale of a financial     interest in a corporation, professional corporation, partnership     or other entity resulting from termination or withdrawal     therefrom upon assumption of public office or employment or any     other form of recompense or any combination thereof. The term     refers to gross income and includes prize winnings and tax-     exempt income. The term does not include gifts, governmentally     mandated payments or benefits, retirement, pension or annuity     payments funded totally by contributions of the public official     or employee, or miscellaneous, incidental income of minor     dependent children.        "Indirect interest in real estate."  Any business entity the     assets of which are 80% or more in real property.        "Ministerial action."  An action that a person performs in a     prescribed manner in obedience to the mandate of legal authority     without regard to or the exercise of the person's own judgment     as to the desirability of the action being taken.        "Nominee."  Any person whose name has been submitted to a     public official or governmental body vested with the power to     finally confirm or reject proposed appointments to public office     or employment.        "Nonministerial actions."  An action in which the person     exercises his own judgment as to the desirability of the action     taken.        "Opinion."  A directive of the State Ethics Commission issued     pursuant to section 1107(10) (relating to powers and duties of     commission) setting forth a public official's or public     employee's duties under this chapter.        "Order."  A directive of the State Ethics Commission issued     pursuant to section 1107(13) (relating to powers and duties of     commission) at the conclusion of an investigation which contains     findings of fact, conclusions of law and penalties.        "Person."  A business, governmental body, individual,     corporation, union, association, firm, partnership, committee,     club or other organization or group of persons.        "Political contribution."  Any advance, conveyance, deposit,     distribution, transfer of funds, loan, payment, pledge, purchase     of a ticket to a testimonial or similar fundraising affair, or     subscription of money or anything of value except volunteer     services, in connection with a political campaign, and any     contract, agreement, promise or other obligations, whether or     not legally enforceable, to make a political contribution.        "Political subdivision."  Any county, city, borough,     incorporated town, township, school district, vocational school,     county institution district, and any authority, entity or body     organized by the aforementioned.        "Public employee."  Any individual employed by the     Commonwealth or a political subdivision who is responsible for     taking or recommending official action of a nonministerial     nature with regard to:            (1)  contracting or procurement;            (2)  administering or monitoring grants or subsidies;            (3)  planning or zoning;            (4)  inspecting, licensing, regulating or auditing any        person; or            (5)  any other activity where the official action has an        economic impact of greater than a de minimis nature on the        interests of any person.     The term shall not include individuals who are employed by this     Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof in teaching as     distinguished from administrative duties.        "Public official."  Any person elected by the public or     elected or appointed by a governmental body or an appointed     official in the executive, legislative or judicial branch of     this Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, provided     that it shall not include members of advisory boards that have     no authority to expend public funds other than reimbursement for     personal expense or to otherwise exercise the power of the State     or any political subdivision thereof.        "Represent."  To act on behalf of any other person in any     activity which includes, but is not limited to, the following:     personal appearances, negotiations, lobbying and submitting bid     or contract proposals which are signed by or contain the name of     a former public official or public employee.        "Solicitor."  A person elected or appointed to the office of     solicitor for the political subdivision.        "Source."  Any person who is a provider of an item reportable     under section 1105 (relating to statement of financial     interests).        "State consultant."  A person who, as an independent     contractor, performs professional, scientific, technical or     advisory service for an agency of this Commonwealth and who     receives a fee, honorarium or similar compensation for such     services. A State consultant is not an executive-level employee.     (Nov. 1, 2006, P.L.1213, No.134, eff. Jan. 1, 2007)        2006 Amendment.  Act 134 amended the def. of "gift" and added     the def. of "hospitality."