HomeMy WebLinkAbout80-679 ScanlonThe Honorable Robert G. Scanlon
Secretary of Education
Department of Education
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Dear Secretary Scanlon:
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
308 FINANCE BUILDING
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120
June 23, 1980
ADVICE OF THE COMMISSION
Advice #80 -679
On June 9, 1980 you wrote to the Commission asking
whether your serving as chairman of the National Advisory
Board to the Center for the Study of Evaluation established
by UCLA with federal grants would create a conflict of in-
terest under Act 170. You also noted that you had been
offered an honorarium of several hundred dollars in
connection with this post.
Among other facts, you stated that neither the Advisory
Board nor the Center for the Study of Evaluation has a con-
tractual relationship with your department or any state agency;
nor do they engage in lobbying in Pennsylvania or any other
lobbying; nor have they adopted a goal which would conflict
with your impartial administration of the Pennsylvania Public
School Code.
As Secretary of Education, you are a "public official"
as that term is used in Act 170.
Your role with the National Advisory Board to the Center
for the Study of Evaluation would not conflict with your re-
sponsibilities as Secretary of Education nor would this post
provide personal financial gain to you. The honorarium would
not be considered as personal financial gain arrived at through
the use of your office or information of that office. Your
acceptance of this position would create no conflict under
Act 170.
The Honorable Robert G. Scanlon
June 23, 1980
Page 2
Pursuant to Section 7(9)(ii), this advice is a complete
defense in any enforcement proceeding initiated by the Commission,
and evidence of good faith conduct in any other civil or criminal
proceeding, providing the requestor has disclosed truthfully all
the material facts and committed the acts complained of in reliance
on the Advice given.
This letter is a public record and will be made available
as such.
PJS /nia
You may appeal this advice to the full Commission.