tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23816706.post1874542215669957897..comments2023-08-18T03:02:44.979-05:00Comments on Illinois Issues blog: Warning: Rocky road still aheadIllinois Issues Statehouse bureauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17857188978913308313noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23816706.post-21194320916220383892008-09-26T16:23:00.000-05:002008-09-26T16:23:00.000-05:00Is the governor going to sign the legislation to r...Is the governor going to sign the legislation to restore the funding? Those scheduled to be laid off really need to know so they can start making arrangements. Especially, those that are going to have to move, etc. I wish he would make a decision!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23816706.post-2676682800423030892008-09-24T09:18:00.000-05:002008-09-24T09:18:00.000-05:00What are the odds of any ethics reform legislation...What are the odds of any ethics reform legislation including something like this?<BR/><BR/>From the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:<BR/><BR/>T I T L E 4<BR/><BR/>A M U S E M E N T S<BR/><BR/>P A R T I I <BR/><BR/>GAMING<BR/><BR/><BR/>ยง 1513. <BR/>Political Influence.<BR/><BR/>(a) Contribution restriction.--The following persons shall be prohibited from contributing any money or in-kind contribution to a candidate for nomination or election to any public office in this Commonwealth, or to any<BR/>political party committee or other political committee in this Commonwealth or to any group, committee or association organized in support of a candidate, political party committee or other political committee in this<BR/>Commonwealth:<BR/><BR/>(1) An applicant for a slot machine license, manufacturer license, supplier license, principal license, key employee license or<BR/>horse or harness racing license.<BR/><BR/>(2) A slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer, licensed<BR/>supplier or licensed racing entity.<BR/><BR/>(3) A licensed principal or licensed key employee of a slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer, licensed supplier or licensed<BR/>racing entity.<BR/><BR/>(4) An affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of a slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer, licensed supplier or<BR/>licensed racing entity.<BR/><BR/>(5) A licensed principal or licensed key employee of an affiliate, intermediary, subsidiary or holding company of a slot machine licensee, licensed manufacturer, licensed supplier or licensed racing<BR/>entity.<BR/><BR/>(6) A person who holds a similar gaming license in another jurisdiction and the affiliates, intermediaries, subsidiaries, holding<BR/>companies, principals or key employees thereof.<BR/><BR/>(a.1) Contributions to certain associations and organizations barred.--<BR/><BR/>The individuals prohibited from making political contributions under<BR/>subsection (a) shall not make a political contribution of money or an in-kind contribution to any association or organization, including a nonprofit organization, that has been solicited by, or knowing that the contribution or a portion thereof will be contributed to, the elected official,<BR/>executive-level public employee or candidate for nomination or election to a<BR/>public office in this Commonwealth.<BR/><BR/>(a.2) Internet website.--<BR/><BR/>(1) The board shall establish an Internet website that includes a list of all applicants for and holders of a slot machine license, manufacturer license, supplier license or racing entity license, and the affiliates, intermediaries, subsidiaries, holding companies, principals and key employees thereof, all persons holding a similar<BR/>gaming license in another jurisdiction, and the affiliates, <BR/>intermediaries, subsidiaries, holding companies, principals and key employees thereof, and any other entity in which the applicant or licensee has any debt or equity security or other ownership or profits<BR/>interest. <BR/><BR/>An applicant or licensee shall notify the board within seven<BR/>days of the discovery of any change in or addition to the information.<BR/><BR/>The list shall be published semiannually in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.<BR/><BR/>(2) An individual who acts in good faith and in reliance on the information on the Internet website shall not be subject to any penalties or liability imposed for a violation of this section.<BR/><BR/>(3) The board shall request the information required under paragraph (1) from persons licensed in another jurisdiction who do not hold a license in this Commonwealth and from regulatory agencies in the other jurisdiction. <BR/><BR/>If a licensee in another jurisdiction refuses to<BR/>provide the information required under paragraph (1), the person and its<BR/>officers, directors or persons with a controlling interest shall be<BR/>ineligible to receive any license under this part.<BR/><BR/>(b) Annual certification.--The chief executive officer, or other<BR/>appropriate individual, of each applicant for a slot machine license, manufacturer license or supplier license, licensed racing entity, licensed<BR/>supplier, licensed manufacturer or licensed gaming entity shall annually certify under oath to the board and the Department of State that such applicant or licensed racing entity, licensed supplier, licensed<BR/>manufacturer or licensed gaming entity has developed and implemented<BR/>internal safeguards and policies intended to prevent a violation of this<BR/>provision and that such applicant or licensed racing entity or licensed<BR/>gaming entity has conducted a good faith investigation that has not revealed any violation of this provision during the past year.<BR/><BR/>(c) Penalties.--The first violation of this section by a licensed gaming<BR/>entity or any person that holds a controlling interest in such gaming<BR/>entity, or a subsidiary company thereof, and any officer, director or<BR/>management-level employee of such licensee shall be punishable by a fine of<BR/>not less than an average single day's gross terminal revenue of the licensed gaming entity derived from the operation of slot machines in this<BR/>Commonwealth; a second violation of this section, within five years of the<BR/>first violation, shall be punishable by at least a one-day suspension of the<BR/>license held by the licensed gaming entity and a fine not less than an<BR/>average two days' gross revenue of the licensed gaming entity; a third<BR/>violation of this section within five years of the second violation shall be<BR/>punishable by the immediate revocation of the license held by the licensed gaming entity. <BR/><BR/>The first violation of this section by a manufacturer or<BR/>supplier licensed pursuant to this part or by any person that holds a<BR/>controlling interest in such manufacturer or supplier, or a subsidiary<BR/>company thereof, and any officer, director or management-level employee of such a licensee shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one day's<BR/>average of the gross profit from sales made by the manufacturer or supplier in Pennsylvania during the preceding 12-month period or portion thereof in the event the manufacturer or supplier has not operated in Pennsylvania for 12 months; a second violation of this section within five years of the first<BR/>violation shall be punishable by a one-month suspension of the license held by the manufacturer or supplier and a fine of not less than two times one<BR/>day's average of the gross profit from sales made by the manufacturer or<BR/>supplier in Pennsylvania during the preceding 12-month period or portion<BR/>thereof in the event the manufacturer or supplier has not operated in<BR/>Pennsylvania for 12 months. <BR/><BR/>In no event shall the fine imposed under this<BR/>section be in an amount less than $50,000 for each violation. In addition to<BR/>any fine or sanction that may be imposed by the board, any person who makes<BR/>a contribution in violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.<BR/><BR/>(d) Definitions.<BR/><BR/>As used in this section, the following words and<BR/>phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:<BR/><BR/>"Contribution." Any payment, gift, subscription, assessment, contract, payment for services, dues, loan, forbearance, advance or deposit of money or any valuable thing made to a candidate or political committee for the<BR/>purpose of influencing any election in this Commonwealth or for paying debts incurred by or for a candidate or committee before or after any election.<BR/><BR/>The term shall include the purchase of tickets for events including dinners,<BR/>luncheons, rallies and other fundraising events; the granting of discounts<BR/>or rebates not available to the general public; or the granting of discounts<BR/>or rebates by television and radio stations and newspapers not extended on<BR/>an equal basis to all candidates for the same office; and any payments<BR/>provided for the benefit of any candidate, including payments for the<BR/>services of a person serving as an agent of a candidate or committee by a<BR/>person other than the candidate or committee or person whose expenditures<BR/>the candidate or committee must report. <BR/><BR/>The term also includes any receipt or use of anything of value received by a political committee from another political committee and also includes any return on investments by a<BR/>political committee.<BR/><BR/>"Political committee." <BR/>Any committee, club, association or other group<BR/>of persons which receives contributions or makes expenditures.<BR/><BR/>(Nov. 1, 2006, P.L.1243, No.135, eff. imd.)<BR/>2006 Amendment. Act 135 amended subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (a.1),<BR/>(a.2) and (d).<BR/><BR/>Cross References. Section 1513 is referred to in section 1325 of this<BR/>title.<BR/><BR/>The pertinent aspects of Section 1325 (d) are as follows:<BR/><BR/>(d) Trusts and similar business entities.<BR/><BR/>The board shall determine the eligibility of a trust or similar business entity to be a licensed entity in<BR/>accordance with the following:<BR/><BR/>(1) No trust or similar business entity shall be eligible to hold any beneficial interest in a licensed entity under this part unless each trustee, grantor and beneficiary of the trust, including a minor child beneficiary, qualifies for and is granted a license as a principal.<BR/><BR/>The board may waive compliance with this paragraph if the trustee is a banking or lending institution and the board is satisfied that the<BR/>trustee is not significantly involved in the activities of the licensed entity. <BR/><BR/>In addition to other information required by the board, a banking<BR/>or lending institution acting as a trustee shall produce at the request<BR/>of the board any documentation or information relating to the trust.<BR/><BR/>(2) No beneficiary of a trust or similar business entity who is a minor child shall control or be significantly involved in the activities of a licensed entity or its holding company or intermediary.<BR/><BR/>No beneficiary of a trust or similar business entity who is a minor child<BR/>shall be permitted to vote to elect directors of a licensed entity or its<BR/>holding company or intermediary.<BR/><BR/>(3) No trust or similar business entity may hold any beneficial interest in a licensed entity unless the board determines that<BR/>the trust or similar business entity is not engaged in any activity or<BR/>otherwise being used to evade the public protections under this part, including sections 1512 (relating to financial and employment interests)and 1513 (relating to political influence).<BR/>(Nov. 1, 2006, P.L.1243, No.135, eff. imd.)<BR/><BR/>http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/files/legislation/Current_Statute_Title_4.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com