Court Opinions

State Laws

US Code

US Constitution

Political influence - 4 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1513

Legal Research Home > Pennsylvania Statutes

     § 1513.  Political influence.
        (a)  Contribution restriction.--The following persons shall
     be prohibited from contributing any money or in-kind
     contribution to a candidate for nomination or election to any
     public office in this Commonwealth, or to any political party
     committee or other political committee in this Commonwealth or
     to any group, committee or association organized in support of a
     candidate, political party committee or other political
     committee in this Commonwealth:
            (1)  An applicant for a slot machine license,
        manufacturer license, supplier license, principal license,
        key employee license or horse or harness racing license.
            (2)  A slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer,
        licensed supplier or licensed racing entity.
            (3)  A licensed principal or licensed key employee of a
        slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer, licensed
        supplier or licensed racing entity.
            (4)  An affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding
        company of a slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer,
        licensed supplier or licensed racing entity.
            (5)  A licensed principal or licensed key employee of an
        affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of a
        slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer, licensed
        supplier or licensed racing entity.
            (6)  A person who holds a similar gaming license in
        another jurisdiction and the affiliates, intermediaries,
        subsidiaries, holding companies, principals or key employees
        thereof.
        (a.1)  Contributions to certain associations and
     organizations barred.--The individuals prohibited from making
     political contributions under subsection (a) shall not make a
     political contribution of money or an in-kind contribution to
     any association or organization, including a nonprofit
     organization, that has been solicited by, or knowing that the
     contribution or a portion thereof will be contributed to, the
     elected official, executive-level public employee or candidate
     for nomination or election to a public office in this
     Commonwealth.
        (a.2)  Internet website.--
            (1)  The board shall establish an Internet website that
        includes a list of all applicants for and holders of a slot
        machine license, manufacturer license, supplier license or
        racing entity license, and the affiliates, intermediaries,
        subsidiaries, holding companies, principals and key employees
        thereof, all persons holding a similar gaming license in
        another jurisdiction, and the affiliates, intermediaries,
        subsidiaries, holding companies, principals and key employees
        thereof, and any other entity in which the applicant or
        licensee has any debt or equity security or other ownership
        or profits interest. An applicant or licensee shall notify
        the board within seven days of the discovery of any change in
        or addition to the information. The list shall be published
        semiannually in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
            (2)  An individual who acts in good faith and in reliance
        on the information on the Internet website shall not be
        subject to any penalties or liability imposed for a violation
        of this section.
            (3)  The board shall request the information required
        under paragraph (1) from persons licensed in another
        jurisdiction who do not hold a license in this Commonwealth
        and from regulatory agencies in the other jurisdiction. If a
        licensee in another jurisdiction refuses to provide the
        information required under paragraph (1), the person and its
        officers, directors or persons with a controlling interest
        shall be ineligible to receive any license under this part.
        (b)  Annual certification.--The chief executive officer, or
     other appropriate individual, of each applicant for a slot
     machine license, manufacturer license or supplier license,
     licensed racing entity, licensed supplier, licensed manufacturer
     or licensed gaming entity shall annually certify under oath to
     the board and the Department of State that such applicant or
     licensed racing entity, licensed supplier, licensed manufacturer
     or licensed gaming entity has developed and implemented internal
     safeguards and policies intended to prevent a violation of this
     provision and that such applicant or licensed racing entity or
     licensed gaming entity has conducted a good faith investigation
     that has not revealed any violation of this provision during the
     past year.
        (c)  Penalties.--The first violation of this section by a
     licensed gaming entity or any person that holds a controlling
     interest in such gaming entity, or a subsidiary company thereof,
     and any officer, director or management-level employee of such
     licensee shall be punishable by a fine of not less than an
     average single day's gross terminal revenue of the licensed
     gaming entity derived from the operation of slot machines in
     this Commonwealth; a second violation of this section, within
     five years of the first violation, shall be punishable by at
     least a one-day suspension of the license held by the licensed
     gaming entity and a fine not less than an average two days'
     gross revenue of the licensed gaming entity; a third violation
     of this section within five years of the second violation shall
     be punishable by the immediate revocation of the license held by
     the licensed gaming entity. The first violation of this section
     by a manufacturer or supplier licensed pursuant to this part or
     by any person that holds a controlling interest in such
     manufacturer or supplier, or a subsidiary company thereof, and
     any officer, director or management-level employee of such a
     licensee shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one
     day's average of the gross profit from sales made by the
     manufacturer or supplier in Pennsylvania during the preceding
     12-month period or portion thereof in the event the manufacturer
     or supplier has not operated in Pennsylvania for 12 months; a
     second violation of this section within five years of the first
     violation shall be punishable by a one-month suspension of the
     license held by the manufacturer or supplier and a fine of not
     less than two times one day's average of the gross profit from
     sales made by the manufacturer or supplier in Pennsylvania
     during the preceding 12-month period or portion thereof in the
     event the manufacturer or supplier has not operated in
     Pennsylvania for 12 months. In no event shall the fine imposed
     under this section be in an amount less than $50,000 for each
     violation. In addition to any fine or sanction that may be
     imposed by the board, any person who makes a contribution in
     violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the third
     degree.
        (d)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
     words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
     subsection:
        "Contribution."  Any payment, gift, subscription, assessment,
     contract, payment for services, dues, loan, forbearance, advance
     or deposit of money or any valuable thing made to a candidate or
     political committee for the purpose of influencing any election
     in this Commonwealth or for paying debts incurred by or for a
     candidate or committee before or after any election. The term
     shall include the purchase of tickets for events including
     dinners, luncheons, rallies and other fundraising events; the
     granting of discounts or rebates not available to the general
     public; or the granting of discounts or rebates by television
     and radio stations and newspapers not extended on an equal basis
     to all candidates for the same office; and any payments provided
     for the benefit of any candidate, including payments for the
     services of a person serving as an agent of a candidate or
     committee by a person other than the candidate or committee or
     person whose expenditures the candidate or committee must
     report. The term also includes any receipt or use of anything of
     value received by a political committee from another political
     committee and also includes any return on investments by a
     political committee.
        "Political committee."  Any committee, club, association or
     other group of persons which receives contributions or makes
     expenditures.
     (Nov. 1, 2006, P.L.1243, No.135, eff. imd.)

        2006 Amendment.  Act 135 amended subsec. (a) and added
     subsecs. (a.1), (a.2) and (d).
        Cross References.  Section 1513 is referred to in section
     1325 of this title.

Last modified: November 27, 2007