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State Ethics Commission - 65 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1106

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     § 1106.  State Ethics Commission.
        (a)  Continuation of commission.--The State Ethics Commission
     established under the act of October 4, 1978 (P.L.883, No.170),
     referred to as the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law, is
     continued and shall be composed of seven members. The President
     pro tempore of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate,
     the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader of the House
     shall each appoint one member. Three members shall be appointed
     by the Governor without confirmation. No more than two of the
     members appointed by the Governor shall be of the same political
     party. No appointee shall have served as an officer in a
     political party for one year prior to his appointment.
        (b)  Term of service.--Members of the commission shall serve
     for terms of three years, except that members shall continue to
     serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.
        (c)  Maximum number of terms.--No member shall be appointed
     to more than two full three-year terms on the commission.
        (d)  Prohibited activities.--No individual while a member or
     employee of the commission shall:
            (1)  hold or campaign for any other public office;
            (2)  hold office in any political party or political
        committee;
            (3)  actively participate in or contribute to any
        political campaign;
            (4)  directly or indirectly attempt to influence any
        decision by a governmental body other than a court of law or
        as a representative of the commission on a matter within the
        jurisdiction of the commission; or
            (5)  be employed by the Commonwealth or a political
        subdivision in any other capacity, whether or not for
        compensation.
        (e)  Vacancy.--A majority of the commission by resolution
     shall declare vacant the position on the commission of any
     member who takes part in activities prohibited by subsection
     (d). An individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring other
     than by the expiration of a term of office shall be appointed
     for the unexpired term of the member he succeeds and is eligible
     for appointment to two full three-year terms thereafter. Any
     vacancy occurring on the commission shall be filled within 30
     days in the manner in which that position was originally filled.
        (f)  Election of chairman and vice chairman.--The commission
     shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman. The vice chairman
     shall act as chairman in the absence of the chairman or in the
     event of a vacancy in that position.
        (g)  Quorum.--Four members of the commission shall constitute
     a quorum, and, except as provided in section 1108(g) (relating
     to investigations by commission), the votes of a majority of the
     members present are required for any action or recommendation of
     the commission. The chairman or any four members of the
     commission may call a meeting provided that advance written
     notice is mailed to each member and to any person who requests
     notice of such meetings.
        (h)  Compensation.--Members of the commission shall be
     compensated at a rate of $250 per day and shall receive
     reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses while
     performing the business of the commission.
        (i)  Staff.--The commission shall employ an executive
     director, a chief counsel and such other staff as are necessary
     to carry out its duties pursuant to this chapter. The executive
     director shall be responsible for the administrative operations
     of the commission and shall perform such other duties as may be
     delegated or assigned to him by the commission, except that the
     commission shall not delegate the making of regulations to the
     executive director. The chief counsel shall be the chief legal
     officer of the commission. The commission may obtain the
     services of experts and consultants as necessary to carry out
     its duties pursuant to this chapter. The State Treasurer and the
     Attorney General shall make available to the commission such
     personnel, facilities and other assistance as the commission may
     request.
        (j)  Regulations.--The commission shall develop regulations
     that provide for a code of conduct to govern the activities and
     ethical standards of its members, which code shall subject the
     members of the commission to no less than is required for public
     officials or public employees under this chapter.

Last modified: November 27, 2007