§ 1621Definitions

As used in this article, the
following words have the following meanings:
   (a) The word "candidate" shall mean any individual who seeks
nomination or election to public office, other than a judge of
elections or inspector of elections, whether or not such
individual is nominated or elected. For the purpose of this
article, an individual shall be deemed to be seeking nomination
or election to such office if he has:

   (1) Received a contribution or made an expenditure or has
given his consent for any other person or committee to receive
a contribution or make an expenditure, for the purpose of
influencing his nomination or election to such office, whether
or not the individual has made known the specific office for
which he or she will seek nomination or election at the time
the contribution is received or the expenditure is made; or
   (2) Taken the action necessary under the laws of the
Commonwealth to qualify himself for nomination or election to
such office.
   ((a) amended July 21, 1979, P.L.189, No.63)
   (b) The word "contribution" shall mean any payment, gift,
subscription, assessment, contract, payment for services, dues,
loan, forbearance, advance or deposit of money or any valuable
thing, to a candidate or political committee made for the
purpose of influencing any election in this Commonwealth or for
paying debts incurred by or for a candidate or committee before
or after any election. "Contribution" shall also include the
purchase of tickets for events such as dinners, luncheons,
rallies and all other fund-raising events; the granting of
discounts or rebates not available to the general public; or
the granting of discounts or rebates by television and radio
stations and newspapers not extended on an equal basis to all
candidates for the same office; and any payments provided for
the benefit of any candidate, including any payments for the
services of any person serving as an agent of a candidate or
committee by a person other than the candidate or committee or
a person whose expenditures the candidate or committee must
report under this act. The word "contribution" includes any
receipt or use of anything of value received by a political
committee from another political committee and also includes
any return on investments by a political committee.
   (c) The word "election" shall mean any retention, primary,
special, municipal or general election at which candidates
appear on the ballot for nomination or election or at which
questions are to be voted on by the electors of this
Commonwealth.
   (d) The word "expenditure" shall mean:
   (1) The payment, distribution, loan or advancement of money
or any valuable thing by a candidate, political committee or
other person for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an
election;
   (2) The payment, distribution, loan, advance or transfer
of money or other valuable thing between or among political
committees;
   (3) The providing of a service or other valuable thing for
the purpose of influencing the outcome of a nomination or
election of any person to any public office to be voted for in
this Commonwealth; or
   (4) The payment or providing of money or other valuable
thing by any person other than a candidate or political
committee, to compensate any person for services rendered to a
candidate or political committee.
   (e) The words "independent expenditure" shall mean an
expenditure by a person made for the purpose of influencing an
election without cooperation or consultation with any candidate
or any political committee authorized by that candidate and
which is not made in concert with or at the request or
suggestion of any candidate or political committee or agent
thereof.
   (f) The word "lobbyist" shall mean any person who is
registered pursuant to the provisions of the act of September

30, 1961 (P.L.1778, No.712), known as the "Lobbying Registration
and Regulation Act."
   (g) The word "pledge" shall mean any written contract,
promise or agreement to contribute personally money or anything
of value.
   (h) The words "political committee" shall mean any
committee, club, association or other group of persons which
receives contributions or makes expenditures.
   (i) The words "prosecutorial officer" shall mean the
Attorney General of this Commonwealth or the district attorneys
of the respective counties.
   (j) The word "supervisor" shall mean the Secretary of the
Commonwealth or the respective county boards of elections.
   (k) The words "valuable thing" shall mean all securities,
goods, facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel, advertising,
services, membership lists commonly offered or used commercially
or other in-kind contributions provided without compensation,
or at compensation which is below the usual and normal
compensation for the items. The dollar value of a contribution
of a valuable thing is the difference between the usual and
normal charge for goods or services at the time of the
contribution and the amount charged the candidate or political
committee.
   Any of the categories hereinafter excluded from the
definition of "valuable thing" shall not be deemed a
contribution or expenditure for purposes of reporting or record
keeping. The words "valuable thing" shall not include such de
minimus items as the following:
   (1) Voluntary personal services provided by individuals who
volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a
candidate or political committee.
   (2) The operation of a motor vehicle owned or leased by a
candidate or a member of his immediate family or for consumption
of food or beverages by a candidate or his immediate family.
   (3) The use of real or personal property, including a
community room or a church used on a regular basis by members
of a community for noncommercial purposes, and the cost of
invitations, food and beverages voluntarily provided by an
individual to any candidate in rendering voluntary personal
services on the individual's residential premises or in the
church or community room for candidate related activities, to
the extent that the cumulative value of such invitations, food
and beverages provided by such individual on behalf of any
single candidate does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars
($250), with respect to any single election.
   (4) The sale of any food or beverage by a vendor other than
a corporation or unincorporated association for use in any
candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable
charge, if such charge is at least equal to the cost of such
food or beverage to the vendor to the extent that the cumulative
value of such reduced charge by such vendor on behalf of any
single candidate does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars
($250) with respect to any single election.
   (5) Any unreimbursed payment for travel expenses made by
any individual on behalf of any candidate to the extent that
the cumulative value of such travel activity by such individual
on behalf of any single candidate does not exceed two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) with respect to any single election.
   (6) The use of the personal residence or the business or
office space of the candidate other than a corporation or
unincorporated association and the use of personal property
owned or leased by the candidate: Provided, however, That the

cumulative value of the use of such personal property does not
exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) with respect to any single
election.
   (7) The use of the personal residence or the business or
office space of any volunteer, other than a corporation or
unincorporated association, and the use of personal property
owned or leased by a volunteer: Provided, however, That the
cumulative value of the use of such personal property does not
exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) with respect to any
single election. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
permit any matter prohibited in sections 1633 and 1843.
   ((k) amended July 11, 1980, P.L.591, No.127)
   (l) The words "Political Action Committee" shall mean any
political committee as defined in subsection (h) which receives
contributions and makes expenditures to, or on behalf of, any
candidate other than a candidate's own authorized political
committees or the political committees of any State, county,
city, borough, township, ward or other regularly constituted
party committee of any political party or political body. ((l)
added July 21, 1979, P.L.189, No.63)
   (m) The words "Candidate's Political Committee" shall mean
any political committee formed on behalf of a specified
candidate and authorized by said candidate. ((m) added July 21,
1979, P.L.189, No.63)
   (1621 added Oct. 4, 1978, P.L.893, No.171)