Pennsylvania State Capitol. Photo: Zack Frank/Shutterstock.com

Legislation to impose restrictions on gifts to public officers, public employees and candidates for public office will be voted on by the state House of Representatives State Government Committee this week, according to state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming, the primary sponsor of the proposal.

The legislation would prohibit public officers, public employees and candidates for public office from accepting a gift of cash in any amount, according to a statement from Everett's office. The same individuals would be prohibited from accepting any gift that has either a fair market value or an aggregate actual cost of more than $50 from any one person in a calendar year.

Everett described the amendments to Title 65 as balancing the interest of raising standards of conduct and not impeding the vote-getting efforts of low-budget candidates.

"As public officials, we are public 'servants' and should be dedicated to holding ourselves to a higher standard that respects the office," Everett said. "This bill strikes a proper balance between public accountability and banning gifts outright. It is only fair to recognize that there are often candidates running on a smaller budget with less support than others."

Under the bill, public officers, public employees and candidates for public office would be prohibited from accepting hospitality, transportation or lodging that has either a fair market value of an aggregate actual cost of more than $500 from any one person in a calendar year.