STATE ETHICS COMMISSION Thresholds for Disclosure on the Statement of Financial Interests [27 Pa.B. 1710] Section 5 of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law (Ethics Law) (65 P. S. § 405) which sets forth the requirements for disclosure for Statements of Financial Interests filed under the Ethics Law, includes certain categories for which there are threshold dollar amounts at or beyond which disclosure must be made. Section 5(d) (65 P. S. § 405(d)) requires that the State Ethics Commission biennially review these threshold dollar amounts to determine whether they should be increased to assure appropriate disclosure. Upon a final determination of the appropriate reporting increases, the Commission is required to publish a schedule of the increases in the Pennsylvania Bulletin in 2 successive months. See 65 P. S. § 405(d); 51 Pa. Code § 19.5(d).
On February 21, 1997, the State Ethics Commission reviewed and increased the dollar amounts set forth in section 5, subparagraphs (b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(6) and (b)(7)(i) of Act 9 of 1989, such that the reporting thresholds shall be as follows effective beginning with the forms that are due to be filed in 1998:
* The dollar amount in section 5(b)(4) involving creditors shall increase from $5,000 to $6,500;
* The dollar amount in section 5(b)(5) involving sources of income shall increase from $1,000 to $1,300;
* The dollar amount in section 5(b)(6) involving gifts shall increase from $200 to $250; and
* The dollar amount in section 5(b)(7)(i) involving certain paid/reimbursed actual expenses shall increase from $500 to $650.
JOHN J. CONTINO,
Executive Director[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-536. Filed for public inspection April 4, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]
