2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 4 - AMUSEMENTS › Chapter 43 - Ethics › Section 4305 - Political influence

§ 4305. Political influence.
(a) Contribution restriction.--
The following persons shall be prohibited from contributing money or an in-kind contribution to a candidate for nomination or election to a public office in this Commonwealth, to a political party committee or other political committee in this Commonwealth or to a 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 terminal operator license, manufacturer license, supplier license, principal license or a key employee license.
(2) A terminal operator licensee, manufacturer licensee or supplier licensee.
(3) A licensed principal or licensed key employee of a terminal operator licensee, manufacturer licensee or supplier licensee.
(4) An affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of a terminal operator licensee, manufacturer licensee or supplier licensee.
(5) A licensed principal or licensed key employee of an affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of a terminal operator licensee, manufacturer licensee or supplier licensee.
(6) A person who holds a similar video gaming license in another jurisdiction and the affiliates, intermediaries, subsidiaries, holding companies, principals or key employees thereof.
(b) Contributions to certain associations and organizations barred.--
No individual prohibited from making political contributions under subsection (a) may make a political contribution of money or an in-kind contribution to an 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.
(c) Internet website.--
(1) The board shall establish a publicly accessible Internet website that includes a list of all applicants for and holders of a terminal operator license, manufacturer license or supplier license and the affiliates, intermediaries, holding companies, principals and key employees thereof, all persons holding a similar video gaming license in another jurisdiction, and the affiliates, intermediaries, holding companies, principals and key employees thereof, and other entities in which the applicant or licensee has a debt or an equity security or other ownership or profits interest. An applicant or licensee shall notify the board within seven days of the discovery of a change in or addition to the information.
(2) No individual who acts in good faith and in reliance on the information on the board's publicly accessible Internet website shall be subject to penalty or liability imposed for a violation of this section.
(3) The board shall request the information required under paragraph (1) from a person licensed in another jurisdiction who does not hold a license in this Commonwealth and from regulatory agencies in the other jurisdiction. If a person who is 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 a license under this part.
(d) Annual certification.--
The chief executive officer, or other appropriate individual, of each applicant for a terminal operator license, manufacturer license or supplier license, or manufacturer licensee, supplier licensee or terminal operator licensee, shall annually certify under oath to the board and the Department of State that the applicant or supplier licensee, manufacturer licensee or terminal operator licensee has developed and implemented internal safeguards and policies intended to prevent a violation of this provision and that the applicant or supplier licensee, manufacturer licensee or terminal operator licensee has conducted a good faith investigation that has not revealed a violation of this subsection during the past year.
(e) Penalties.--
(1) A violation of this section by a terminal operator licensee or a person that holds a controlling interest in the licensee, or a subsidiary company thereof, or an officer, director or management-level employee of the licensee shall be punishable as follows:
(i) A first violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine equal to an amount not less than the average single-day gross terminal revenue of the terminal operator licensee.
(ii) 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 terminal operator licensee and a fine equal to an amount not less than two times the average single-day gross terminal revenue of the terminal operator licensee.
(iii) 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 terminal operator licensee.
(2) A violation of this section by a manufacturer or supplier licensed under this part or by a person that holds a controlling interest in such manufacturer or supplier, or a subsidiary company thereof, or an officer, a director or a management-level employee of such a licensee shall be punishable as follows:
(i) A first violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine equal to an amount not less than a single-day average of the gross profit from sales made by the manufacturer or supplier in this Commonwealth during the preceding 12-month period or portion thereof in the event the manufacturer or supplier has not operated in this Commonwealth for 12 months.
(ii) A second or subsequent violation of this section within five years of a prior violation shall be punishable by a one-month suspension of the license held by the manufacturer or supplier and a fine equal to an amount not less than two times a single-day average of the gross profit from sales made by the manufacturer or supplier in this Commonwealth during the preceding 12-month period or portion thereof in the event the manufacturer or supplier has not operated in this Commonwealth for 12 months.
(3) In no event shall the fine imposed under this section be an amount less than $100,000 for each violation. In addition to a fine or sanction that may be imposed by the board under this subsection, an individual who makes a contribution in violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(f) Definitions.--
As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Contribution."
A payment, gift, subscription, assessment, contract, payment for services, dues, loan, forbearance, advance or deposit of money or a valuable thing made to a candidate or political committee for the purpose of influencing an election in this Commonwealth or for paying debts incurred by or for a candidate or committee before or after an election. The term includes:
(1) The purchase of tickets for events, including dinners, luncheons, rallies and other fundraising events.
(2) The granting of discounts or rebates not available to the general public.
(3) 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.
(4) A payment provided for the benefit of a candidate, including payment 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.
(5) The receipt or use of anything of value by a political committee from another political committee and a return on investments by a political committee.
"Political committee."
A committee, club, association or other group of persons that receives contributions or makes expenditures.