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In Re: Roslyn Edwards,
Respondent
TA "III E'III CS COMMISSION
FINANCE BUILDING
613 NORTH STREET, ROOM 309
FIARRISBURG, PA 17120-0400
File Docket'.
X-ref;
Date Decided:
Date Mailed:
FACSIMILE: 717-787-0806
WEBSITE: mLv8yethJcap g aov--
22-006-P
Order No. 723-S
6/28/22
6/29/22
Before: Maric. R. Corrigan, Acting Chair
Roger Nick
Melanie DePalma
Michael A. Schwartz
Shelley Y. Simms
Rhonda Hill Wilson
Paul Parsells
This is a final adjudication of the State Ethics Commission as, to the alleged delinquency
and/or deficiency of Statement(s) of Financial Interests required to be filed pursuant to Sections
1104 and 1105 of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101
et M.
The Investigative Division initiated these proceedings by filing with the State Ethics
Commission and serving upon Respondent a Petition for Civil Penalties. An Order to Show Cause
was issued to Respondent. A Stipulation of Findings and a Consent Agreement were subsequently
submitted by the parties to the Commission for consideration. The Stipulated Findings are set
forth as the Findings in this Order. The Consent Agreement has been approved.
1. FINDINGS:
Respondent Roslyn Edwards ("Respondent") is an adult individual who resides or
maintains a mailing address at [address redacted].
2. At all times relevant to these proceedings, Respondent has been a Member of the
Pennsylvania Early Learning Council, and as such, Respondent has at all times relevant to
these proceedings been a "public official" as defined in Section 1102 of the Ethics Act, 65
Pa.C.S. § 1102.
Respondent, as a public official, is subject to the Statement of Financial Interests filing
provisions of the Ethics Act.
4. Respondent failed to timely provide full financial disclosure as required by the Ethics Act.
Respondent failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020�,
which [Statement of Financial Interests was to be filed] by May 1, 2021. Respondent has
Edwards, 22-006-P
Page 2
therefore violated Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104, 1105.
5. By Notice Letter dated July 30, 2021, Respondent was served with Notice in accordance
with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegations against Respondent
concerning the above transgression. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent an
opportunity to avoid the institution of these civil penalty proceedings by filing an accurate
and complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 within twenty (20)
days of the date of the Notice Letter. Respondent has failed and/or otherwise refused to
file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 so as to comply with the
specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
6. By Notice Letter dated August 20, 2021, Respondent was served with Notice in accordance
with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegations against Respondent
concerning the above transgression. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent an
opportunity to avoid the institution of civil penalty proceedings by filing an accurate and
complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 so as to comply with the
specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
7. Respondent failed to file her Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with
the State Ethics Commission by the deadlines imposed in the Notice Letters.
H. DISCUSSION:
As a Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council, Roslyn Edwards ("Edwards")
was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public official" subject to the provisions of the
Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq.
Pursuant to Section I I04(a) of the Ethics Act, Edwards was specifically required to file a
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the State Ethics Commission and the
Pennsylvania Early Learning Council on or before May 1, 2021. Section 1104(a) provides:
§ 1104. Statement of financial interests required to be filed
(a) Public official or public employee. --Each public official of the
Commonwealth shall file a statement of financial interests for the preceding
calendar year with the commission no later than May 1 of each year that he holds
such a position and of the year after he leaves such a position. Each public
employee and public official of the Commonwealth shall file a statement of
financial interests for the preceding calendar year with the department, agency,
body or bureau in which he is employed or to which he is appointed or elected no
later than May 1 of each year that he holds such a position and of the year after he
leaves such a position. Any other public employee or public official shall file a
statement of financial interests with the governing authority of the political
subdivision by which he is employed or within which he is appointed or elected no
later than May 1 of each year that he holds such a position and of the year after he
leaves such a position. Persons who are full-time or part-time solicitors for political
subdivisions are required to file under this section.
Edwards, 22-006-P
Page 3
65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
The complete financial disclosure which Edwards as a Member of the Pennsylvania Early
Learning Council was required to provide in the Statement of Financial Interests form is statutorily
mandated in detail at Section 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105.
Section 1109(f) of the Ethics Act provides as follows:
§ 1109. Penalties
(t) Civil penalty.-- In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal penalty
provided for in this chapter, the commission may, after notice has been served in
accordance with section 1107(5) (relating to powers and duties of commission)
and upon a majority vote of its members, levy a civil penalty upon any person
subject to this chapter who fails to file a statement of financial interests in a timely
manner or who files a deficient statement of financial interests, at a rate of not more
than $25 for each day such statement remains delinquent or deficient. The
maximum penalty payable under this paragraph is $250.
65 Pa.C.S. § 1109(f).
An application of Section 1109(f) to this case establishes that this Commission has the
discretion to levy a maximum civil penalty against Edwards for the delinquent Statement of
Financial Interests for calendar year 2020.
The prerequisite service of a Notice letter in accordance with Section 1107(5) was satisfied.
Edwards did not remedy the failure to comply with the Ethics Act although given more than the
usual grace period following Notice in which to do so.
The Investigative Division then instituted formal proceedings against Edwards by filing
with this Commission and serving upon her a Petition for Civil Penalties. The Commission Chair
issued an Order to Show Cause, ordering Edwards to show cause why a civil penalty should not
be levied against her. The parties then filed a Stipulation of Findings and Consent Agreement.
The parties propose that this case be resolved by: (1) this Commission finding that Edwards
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar year in compliance
with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act; (2) Edwards making payment of a civil penalty in the
amount of $250.00 in settlement of this matter by certified check or money order payable to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to this Commission within thirty days of the
issuance of the final adjudication in this matter, and (3) Edwards filing a complete and accurate
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 within thirty days of the issuance of the
final adjudication in this matter.
We believe that the Consent Agreement sets forth a proper disposition for this case, based
upon our review of the totality of the facts and circumstances. Accordingly, we approve the
Consent Agreement that has been submitted by the parties.
Edwards, 22-006-P
Page 4
We hereby find that Edwards, as a Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council,
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar year in compliance
with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § I I04(a).
Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby levy one civil penalty against Edwards
in the total amount of $250,00 for Edwards's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2020.
To the extent she has not already done so, Edwards shall be ordered to make payment of
the aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $250.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30) day
after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified
check or money order in the amount of $250.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
To the extent she has not already done so, Edwards shall be ordered to file a complete and
accurate Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the State Ethics Commission
and the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council by no later than the thirtieth (30`h) day after the
mailing date of this adjudication and Order.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
I. As a Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council, Roslyn Edwards ("Edwards")
was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public official" subject to the provisions
of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq.
2. Edwards, as a Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council, failed to timely file a
Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar year in compliance with Section
I I04(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
3. Notice of the delinquency of Edwards's Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year
2020 was previously served upon her in accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act,
65 Pa.C.S. § 1107(5).
4. Based upon the totality of the circumstances in this case, a civil penalty in the total amount
of $250.00 is warranted.
In Re: Roslyn Edwards, File Docket: 22-006-P
Respondent Date Decided: 6/28/22
Date Mailed: 6/29/22
ORDER NO. 723-S
l . Roslyn Edwards ("Edwards"), as a Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council,
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar year in
compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics
Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby levy one civil penalty against Edwards
in the total amount of $250.00 for Edwards's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests
for calendar year 2020.
3. To the extent she has not already done so, Edwards is ordered to make payment of the
aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $250.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30th)
day after the mailing date of this Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified check
or money order in the amount of $250.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
4. To the extent she has not already done so, Edwards is ordered to file a complete and
accurate Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the State Ethics
Commission and the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council by no later than the thirtieth
(301h) day after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Failure to comply with Paragraph 3 or 4 of this Order will result in the initiation of an
appropriate enforcement action.
BY THE C
ION,
Acting Chair