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HomeMy WebLinkAbout92-659Mr. Charles F. Nahill, Jr. 352 Rices Mill Road Wyncoate, PA 19095 STATE ETHICS COMMISSION 309 FINANCE BUILDING P.O. BOX 11470 HARRISBURG, PA 1 71 08 -1 470 TELEPHONE (717) 783 -1610 ADVICE OF COUNSEL December 29, 1992 Section 3. Restricted activities. (g) No former public official or public employee shall represent a person, with 92 -659 Re: Former Public Official; Section 3(g); House of Representa- tives; Representative. Dear Mr. Nahill: This responds to your letter of November 20, 1992, in which you requested advice from the State Ethics Commission. Issue: Whether the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law presents any restrictions upon employment of a State Representative following termination of service with the House of Representatives. Facts: As a Member of the House of Representatives, you request an advisory from the State Ethics Commission as to what action you may pursue after leaving the House of Representatives on November 30, 1992. You state that you are currently soliciting clients with plans of doing governmental relations work for them, which would include lobbying. You ask what restrictions would be placed upon you. Discussion: As a Member of the House of Representatives, you would be considered a "public official" within the definition of that term as set forth in the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law and the Regulations of the Commission. 65 P.S. §402; 51 Pa. Code §1.1. Consequently, upon termination of public service, you would become a "former public official" subject to Section 3(g) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law. Section 3(g) of the Ethics Act provides that: Mr. Charles F. Nahill, Jr. December 29, 1992 Page 2 promised or actual compensation, on any matter before the governmental body with which he has been associated for one year after he leaves that body. Initially, to answer your request the governmental body with which you have been associated while serving as a Member of the House of Representatives must be identified. Then, the scope of the prohibitions associated with the concept and term of "representation" must be reviewed. The Commission has previously determined that the "governmental body" with which a member of the. House of Representatives has been associated upon leaving the House of Representatives includes the House itself, any entity on which the member served as ex officio member and any entity on which the member served by virtue of legislative appointment. See, Seltzer, 80 -004; Goebel, 80 -045; Geesev,, 80 -046; and Geesev,, 80 -057. See also, Barber, Advice No. 86 -635. Under Act 9 of 1989, the term "governmental body with which a public official or public employee is or has been associated" is defined as follows: Section 2. Definitions. "Governmental body with which a public official or public employee is or has been associated." The governmental body within State government or a political subdivision by which the public official or employee is or has been employed or to which the public official or employee is or has been appointed or elected and subdivisions and offices within that governmental body. In applying the above to the instant matter, we must conclude that the governmental body with which you have been associated upon termination of public service would be the House of Representatives in its entirety, any entity on which you served as ex officio member, and any entity on which you served by virtue of legislative appointment. The above is based upon the language of the Ethics Law, the legislative intent (Legislative Journal of House, 1989 Session, No. 15 at 290, 291) and the prior precedent of this Commission. Thus, in Sirolli, Opinion 90 -006, the Commission found that a former Division Director of the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) was not merely restricted to the particular Division as was contended but was in fact restricted to all of DPW regarding the one year representation restriction. Similarly in Sharp, Opinion 90- 009 -R, it was determined that a former legislative assistant to Mr. Charles F. Nahill, Jr. December 29, 1992 Page 3 a state senator was not merely restricted to that particular senator but to the entire Senate as his former governmental body. Therefore, within the first year after termination of service with the House of Representatives, Section 3(g) of the Ethics Law would apply and restrict representation of persons or new employers vis -a -vis the House of Representatives in its entirety, any entity on which you served as ex officio member, and any entity on which you served by virtue of legislative appointment. It is noted that Act 9 of 1989 significantly broadened the definition of the term "governmental body with which a public official or public employee is or has been associated." It was the specific intent of the General Assembly to define the above term so that it was not merely limited to the area where a public official /employee had influence or control but extended to the entire governmental body with which the public official /employee was associated. The foregoing intent is reflected in the legislative debate relative to the amendatory language for the above term: We sought to make particularly clear that when we are prohibiting for 1 year that revolving -door kind of conduct, we are dealing not only with a particular subdivision of an agency or a local government but the entire unit..." Legislative Journal of House, 1989 Session, No. 15 at 290, 291. Therefore, since the Ethics Law must be construed to ascertain and effectuate the intent of the General Assembly under 1 Pa. C.S.A. §1901, it is clear that the governmental body with which you have been associated is the House of Representatives in its entirety, any entity on which you served as ex officio member, and any entity on which you served by virtue of legislative appointment. Turning now to the scope of the restrictions under Section 3(g), the Ethics Law does not affect one's ability to appear before agencies or entities other than with respect to the former governmental body. Likewise, there is no general limitation on the type of employment in which a person may engage, following departure from their governmental body. It is noted, however, that the conflicts of interest law is primarily-concerned with financial conflicts and violations of the public trust. The intent of the law generally is that during the term of a person's public employment he must act consistently with the public trust and upon departure from the public sector, that individual should not be allowed to utilize his association with the public sector, officials or employees to secure for himself or a new employer, Mr. Charles F. Nahill, Jr. December 29, 1992 Page 4 treatment or benefits that may be obtainable only because of his association with his former governmental body. In respect to the one year restriction against such "representation," the Ethics Law defines "Represent" as follows: Section 2. Definitions. "Represent." To act on behalf of any other person in any activity which includes, but is not limited to, the following: personal appearances, negotiations, lobbying and submitting bid or contract proposals which are signed by or contain the name of a former public official or public employee. In addition, the term "Person" is defined as follows under the Ethics Law: Section 2. Definitions. "Person." A business, governmental body, individual, corporation, union, association, firm, partnership, committee, club or other organization or group of persons. The Commission, in Popovich, Opinion 89 -005, has also interpreted the term "representation" as used in Section 3(g) of the Ethics Law to prohibit: 1. Personal appearances before the former governmental body or bodies, including, but not limited to, negotiations or renegotiations in general or as to contracts; 2. Attempts to influence; 3. Submission of bid or contract proposals which are signed by or contain the name of the former public official /employee; 4. Participating in any matters before the former governmental body as to acting on behalf of a person; 5. Lobbying, that is representing the interests of any person or employer before the former governmental body in relation to legislation, regulations, etc. Thus, with regard to your specific proposed conduct of lobbying, such conduct would clearly be prohibited "representation" if before your governmental body, during the one -year period of applicability of Section 3(g). Mr. Charles F. Nahill, Jr. December 29, 1992 Page 5 The Commission has also held that listing one's name as the person who will provide technical assistance on such proposal, document, or bid, if submitted to or reviewed by the former governmental body constitutes an attempt to influence the former governmental body. In Shay, Opinion 91 -012, the Commission held that Section 3(g) would prohibit the inclusion of the name of a former public official /public employee on invoices submitted by his new employer to the former governmental body, even though the invoices pertained to a contract which existed prior to termination of public service. Therefore, within the first year after termination of service, you should not engage in the type of activity outlined above. You may assist in the preparation of any documents presented to your former governmental body. However, you may not be identified on documents submitted to your former governmental body. You may also counsel any person regarding that person's appearance before your former governmental body. Once again, however, the activity in this respect should not be revealed to your former governmental body. Of course, any ban under the Ethics Law would not prohibit or preclude the making of general informational inquiries of your former governmental body to secure information which is available to the general public. This must not be done in an effort to indirectly influence the former governmental body or to otherwise make known to that body the representation of, or work for the new employer. In addition, Sections 3(b) and 3(c) of the Ethics Law provide in part that no person shall offer to a public official /employee and no public official /employee shall solicit or accept anything of monetary value based upon the understanding that the vote, official action, or judgement of the public official /employee would be influenced thereby. Reference is made to these provisions of the law not to imply that there has been or will be any transgression thereof but merely to provide a complete response to the question presented. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Law; the applicability of any other statute, code, ordinance, regulation or other code of conduct other than the Ethics Act has not been considered in that they do not involve an interpretation of the Ethics Law. Specifically not addressed herein is the applicability of the Legislative Code of Conduct. Conclusion: As a Member of the House of Representatives, you would be considered a "public official" as defined in the Ethics Law. rr_ Mr. Charles F. Nahill, Jr. December 29, 1992 Page 6 Representatives, any entity on which you served as ex officio member, and any entity on which you served by virtue of legislative appointment. The restrictions as to representation outlined above must be followed. The propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Law. Further, should service be terminated, as outlined above, the Ethics Law also requires that a Statement of Financial Interests be filed for the year following termination of service. Pursuant to Section 7(11), 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. such. This letter is a public record and will be made available as Finally, if you disagree with this Advice or if you have any reason to challenge same, you may request that the full Commission review this Advice. A personal appearance before the Commission will be scheduled and a formal Opinion from the Commission will be issued. Any such appeal must be in writing and must be received at the Commission within 15 days of the date of this Advice pursuant to 51 Pa. Code 52.12. ncerely, Vincent J. Dopko Chief Counsel