Apr. 24, 2017
Bill takes aim at government corruption
HARRISBURG – The House Judiciary Committee this week overwhelmingly approved legislation sponsored by Scott Petri (R-Bucks) that would strengthen Pennsylvania’s laws governing public corruption.
House Bill 939 would hold state, county or municipal government officials and public employees, including school district employees, accountable for crimes related to their official duties by requiring them to forfeit their government pension and pay appropriate restitution when they plead guilty or no contest to any crime related to their official government position or any felony offense related to their office or employment. Petri’s bill also includes federal crimes that are classified as felonies or are punishable by a term of at least five years imprisonment.
Under the existing Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act, employees or officials who are charged with a forfeiture crime have the ability to plead to a lesser offense that does not trigger pension forfeiture. Petri’s bill would close that loophole and hold public officials accountable for their crimes.
“Government officials and employees would not be able to avoid losing their taxpayer-paid pension by pleading guilty to a lesser offense, as we have seen in several high-profile cases,” said Petri. “My legislation would take away this discretion, requiring offenders to face the real penalties associated with their crimes. This would also include payment of restitution for the victims of their crimes, often taxpayers.
“At least 11 states have legislation that requires pension forfeiture for public officials convicted of a felony associated with their public office. Nine others revoke pensions for any crime involving their office. Pennsylvania’s statute determines pension forfeiture by the type of crime committed. My bill would expand the list of offenses, making our public corruption laws the toughest in the nation,” said Petri.
House Bill 939 is scheduled to go to the full House for consideration next week. The bill passed the House by a vote of 188-2 last session, but the Senate failed to act on it.
Representative Scott Petri
178th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepPetri.com