HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2723        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3630

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Paul McMurtry

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act allowing an exemption to the prohibition on gifts to public employees.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

1/20/2017

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2723        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3630

By Mr. McMurtry of Dedham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3630) of Paul McMurtry and Chris Walsh for legislation to further regulate gifts to public employees.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act allowing an exemption to the prohibition on gifts to public employees.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 3 of chapter 268A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (f) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(f) The state ethics 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; (iv) establishing an one-time exemption within a calendar year for public employees to accept a gift larger than $50, subject to the decision of the state ethics commission pursuant to rules promulgated for permissible one-time exemptions; and (v) establishing additional exclusions for other situations that do not present a genuine risk of a conflict or the appearance of a conflict of interest.