HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4231 FILED ON: 3/20/2009
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3980
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand Nine
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An Act relating to prohibiting gifts from lobbyists..
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1 . Section 3 of chapter 268A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
striking out clauses (a) and (b) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 clauses:-
(a) Whoever, otherwise than as provided by law for the proper discharge of his official
duties, directly or indirectly gives, offers, or promises anything of substantial value to any
present or former state, county, or municipal employee or to any member of the judiciary,
or to any person selected to be such an employee or member of the judiciary for or
because of the employee's official position; or
(b) Whoever, being a present or former state, county, or municipal employee or member
of the judiciary, or person selected to be such an employee or member of the judiciary,
otherwise than as provided by law for the proper discharge of his official duties, directly
or indirectly asks, demands, exacts, solicits, seeks, accepts, receives, or agrees to receive
anything of substantial value for himself for or because of the employee's official
position; or.
SECTION 2. Section 3 of chapter 268A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by
adding the following paragraph:-
The commission shall adopt regulations: (i) defining "substantial value," provided
however that "substantial value" shall not be less than $50; (ii) establishing exclusions
for ceremonial gifts; (iii) establishing exclusions for gifts given solely because of family
or friendship; and (iv) establishing additional exclusions for other situations that do not
present a genuine risk of a conflict or the appearance of a conflict of interest.