HomeMy WebLinkAbout79-505 HershockDear Mr. Hershock:
June 1S, 1979
Mr. Michael H. Hershock
Executive Director
House Appropriations Committee
House of Representatives - .
Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Sincerely,
Paul .I. Smith
Chairman
Advice Number 7-505
In In your letter of June 4, 1979, you requested on informal
opinion from the State Ethics Commission pursuant to Section 7(9)(ii)
of Act 170 of 1978 as to whether you could accept a contract with the
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as a part -time evening
school instructor at their University Center in Harrisburg. In your
letter, you explained that you are presently employed as Executive
Director of the Democratic staff of the House Appropriations Committee
and that in that capacity you review and analyze appropriation requests
from the University of Pennsylvania. You indicated that given the
Committee's present minority status, you have no responsibility for
drafting the appropriation bill and that you role is limited to
supervision of budget analysis and generally advising the Chairman of
the minority side of the Appropriations Committee on the appropriation
for the University of Pennsylvania as well as other Commonwealth
appropriations.
It is my opinion that acceptance of the part -time teaching
contract with the Wharton School would not create a conflict of
interest prohibited by Act 170 of 1978.
In the event that during the term of the teaching contract
a matter comes before you in your official position concerning the
University of Pennsylvania, you should disqualify yourself from parti-
cipating in any decision regarding the matter.
Please be advised that this is an informal opinion.. If you
desire you may request a formal Commission opinion. -••