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In Re: Krista Krug,
Respondent
SWIM ET11IGS COMMISSION
FINANCEEBUII-DING
613 N011TI-1 s rREFT 1`�00M 309
IdAFURISBURG, PA 17120-0400
File Docket:
22-011 -P
Order No.
735-S
Date Decided:
9/14/22
Date Mailed:
9/19/22
FACSIME: 717-787--0806
WEBSi-rE: !Atw_wjthLir,5,pU( Y.
Bef"ore: Mark R. Corrigan, Acting Chair
Shelley Y. Simms, Acting Vice Chair
Roger Nick
Melanie DePalma
Michael A. Schwartz
Rhonda Hill Wilson
Paul E. Parsells
This is a final adjudication of the Pennsylvania 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. An Answer was not filed by the Respondent, and a hearing was deemed
waived. The record is complete. The Findings in this Order are derived from the Petition for Civil
Penalties filed by the Investigative Division.
1. FINDINGS:
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 Facility Reimbursement
Officer with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and as such, Respondent has
at all times relevant to these proceedings been a "public official/public employee" as
defined in Section 1102 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa. C. S. § 1102.
3. Respondent as a public official/public employee is subject to the Statement of Financial
Interests filing provisions of the Ethics Act.
4. Respondent has failed to provide full financial disclosure as, required by the Ethics Act.
Respondent has failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020
Krug, 22-01 i-P
Page 2
which Statement of Financial Interests was to be filed by May 1 of 2021, and Respondent
has therefore transgressed Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104,
1105.
5. By Notice letter dated October 29, 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 refused to file a complete 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 November 18, 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 refused to file
a complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 so as to comply with
the specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
7. Section 1109(f) of the Ethics Act provides:
§ 1109. Penalties
(f) 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).
8. For each violation the Commission finds, Respondent is subject to civil penalty liability
under Section 1109(f) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1109(f), at a rate of not more than
$25.00 per day for each day the Statement of Financial Interests remains delinquent or
deficient, for a maximum civil penalty of $250.00 per violation. Because Respondent has
committed one violation alleged herein, Respondent is subject to total maximum civil
penalty liability of $250.00.
Kru r, 22-01 I-P
Page 3
9. There are no mitigating circumstances and Respondent should be assessed the maximum
civil penalty of $250.00, in that the twenty -day deadline set forth in the said final Notice
letter to Respondent has expired and the Respondent has not complied.
11. DISCUSSION:
As a Facility Reimbursement Officer with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs ("Department of Military and Veterans Affairs"), Krista Krug ("Krug") was at
all times relevant to these proceedings a "public employee" subject to the provisions of the Public
Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq.
Pursuant to Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, Krug was specifically required to file a
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs on or before May 1, 2021. Section 1104(a) provides:
§ 1104. Statement of financial interests required to be fled
(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 I 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.
65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
The complete financial disclosure which Krug as a Facility Reimbursement Officer with
the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs 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 I I09(f) of the Ethics Act provides as follows:
§ 1109. Penalties
(f) 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
Krug, 22-011-P
Page 4
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 Krug 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.
Krug 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 Krug by filing with the State Ethics Commission and serving upon Krug a
Petition for Civil Penalties. The Commission Chair issued an Order to Show Cause, ordering Krug
to show cause why a civil penalty should not be levied against her. Krug did not file an answer to
the Order to Show Cause. There is nothing of record that would constitute a defense or excuse for
Krug's failure to comply with the Ethics Act. Krug has failed to show cause why a civil penalty
should not be levied against her in this matter.
We find that Krug, as a Facility Reimbursement Officer with the Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs failed to comply with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a),
when she failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
We hereby levy one maximum civil penalty against Krug at the rate of Twenty -Five Dollars
($25.00) per day for each day her Statements of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 has
remained delinquent. Given the number of days during which the Statement of Financial Interests
has remained delinquent, the resultant amount to be levied against Krug is Two Hundred and Fifty
Dollars ($250.00).
Krug shall be ordered to make payment of the above civil penalties in the amount of
$250.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30"') day after the mailing date. of this adjudication and
Order, by forwarding a check to this Commission made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
Krug shall be ordered to file a complete and accurate Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2020 with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by no later than the
thirtieth (30"') day after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
Krista Krug ("Krug"), as a Facility Reimbursement Officer with the Pennsylvania
Krug, 22-011-P
Page 5
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, was at all times relevant to these proceedings
a "public employee" subject to the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics
Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et sec.
2. Krug as a Facility Reimbursement Officer with the Pennsylvania Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs, failed to comply with Section 1 I04(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S.
§ I I04(a), when she failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020
with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Notice of the delinquency of Krug'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: Krista Krug, File Docket: 22-011-P
Respondent ; Date Decided: 9/14/22
Date Mailed: 9/19/22
ORDER NO. 735-S
1. Krista Krug ("Krug"), as a Facility Reimbursement Officer with the Pennsylvania
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, failed to comply with Section I I04(a) of the
Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a), when she
failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
2. This Commission hereby levies one maximum civil penalty against Krug at the rate of
Twenty -Five Dollars ($25.00) per day for each day her Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2020 has remained delinquent, for a total civil penalty of Two Hundred and
Fifty Dollars ($250,00). Krug is ordered to pay said civil penalty in the total amount of
$250.00 by no later than the thirtieth (301h) day after the mailing date of this Order, by
forwarding a check to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission made payable to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
3. Krug is ordered to file a complete and accurate Statement of Financial Interests for calendar
year 2020 with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by no later
than the thirtieth (30`h) day after the mailing date of this Order, with one copy forwarded
to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission for compliance verification purposes.
4. Failure to comply with Paragraph 2 or 3 of this Order will result in the initiation of an
appropriate enforcement action.
BY THE COMMISSION,
Mark R. Cor igan, Acting Chair