Order No. 148-SL
Penn Film Group
Registered Principal
Pittsburgh, PA
15222
ORDER SUMMARY:
1.
Penn Film Group, in its capacity as a principal registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State ("Department of State") under principal registration number "P44652," violated Section 13A05 of Pennsylvania's lobbying disclosure law ("Lobbying Disclosure Law"), 65 Pa.C.S.
§
13A05, when it failed to timely file with the Department of State either quarterly expense reports or statements of failure to meet the reporting threshold for the first and second quarters of 2020.
2. The violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Law outlined in paragraph 1 immediately above are deemed to be negligent in nature.
3. Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against Penn Film Group, in the total amount of $58,900.00, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days its first quarter 2020 expense reports or statements of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $100.00 per day for the next ten days its first quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 287 days its second quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 287 x $200.00 = $58,900.00).
4. Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against Penn Film Group, in the total amount of $58,900.00, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days its second quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $100.00 per day for the next ten days its second quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 287 days its second quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 287 x $200.00 = $58,900.00).
5. Penn Film Group is ordered to pay the aforesaid administrative penalties in the total amount of $117,800.00 by way of certified check or money order in the amount of $117,800.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
6. Noncompliance with Paragraph 4 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).
Order No. 149-SL
ESmith Properties, LLC.
Registered Principal
Dallas, TX
75242
ORDER SUMMARY:
1.
ESmith Properties, LLC, in its capacity as a principal registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State ("Department of State") under principal registration number "P51170," violated Section 13A05 of Pennsylvania's lobbying disclosure law ("Lobbying Disclosure Law"), 65 Pa.C.S.
§
13A05, when it failed to timely file with the Department of State either quarterly expense reports or statements of failure to meet the reporting threshold for the first and second quarters of 2020.
2. The violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Law outlined in paragraph 1 immediately above are deemed to be negligent in nature.
3. Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against ESmith Properties, LLC, in the total amount of $58,900.00, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days its first quarter 2020 expense reports or statements of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $100.00 per day for the next ten days its first quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 287 days its first quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 287 x $200.00 = $58,900.00).
4. Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against ESmith Properties, LLC, in the total amount of $58,900.00, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days its second quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $100.00 per day for the next ten days its second quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 287 days its second quarter 2020 expense report or statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 287 x $200.00 = $58,900.00).
5. ESmith Properties, LLC, is ordered to pay the aforesaid administrative penalties in the total amount of $117,800.00 by way of certified check or money order in the amount of $117,800.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
6. Noncompliance with Paragraph 4 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).
Order No. 150-SL
Connections Education
Registered Principal
Nashville, TN
37215
ORDER SUMMARY:
1.
Connections Education, in its capacity as a principal registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State ("Department of State") under principal registration number "P03252," failed to timely file quarterly expense reports with the Department of State for the first and second quarters of 2020 as required by Section 13A05 of Pennsylvania's lobbying disclosure law ("Lobbying Disclosure Law"),
65 Pa.C.S. § 13A05.
2. The transgressions of the Lobbying Disclosure Law outlined in paragraph 1 immediately above are deemed to be negligent in nature.
3. Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), and the Consent Agreement of the parties, this Commission hereby levies one administrative penalty against Connections Education in the total amount of $7,000.00 for its delinquent first and second quarter 2020 expense reports.
4. To the extent it has not already done so, Connections Education is ordered to pay the aforesaid administrative penalty in the total amount of $7,000.00 to be made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Noncompliance with Paragraph 4 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).
Order No. 151-SL
Westmoreland Economic Dev
Initiative for Growth
Registered Principal
Leechburg, PA
15656
ORDER SUMMARY:
1.
As a principal that filed/renewed a registration statement on January 28, 2019, with the Pennsylvania Department of State ("Department of State") under principal registration number "P42370" for the 2019-2020 registration period, Westmoreland Economic Dev Initiative for Growth violated Section 13A04 of
Pennsylvania's lobbying disclosure law ("Lobbying Disclosure Law"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A04, when it failed to include on such registration statement the name and, if available, the email address of its authorized representative, employee, or agent.
2. Westmoreland Economic Dev Initiative for Growth, in its capacity as a principal, violated Section 13A05 of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A05, when it failed to timely file with the Department of State a third quarter 2019 expense report/statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold.
3. The violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Law outlined in paragraphs 1 and 2 above are deemed to be negligent in nature.
4. Pursuant to Section 13A09(c) of the Lobbying Disclosure Law, 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A09(c), this Commission hereby levies two maximum administrative penalties against Respondent Westmoreland Economic Dev Initiative for Growth in the amounts of $118,500.00 and $15,500.00, for the total amount of $134,000.00, calculated as follows:
a. A maximum administrative penalty in the amount of $118,500.00 for Respondent's deficient January 28, 2019, registration statement, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days the January 28, 2019, registration statement was deficient, plus $100.00 per day for the next ten days the January 28, 2019, registration statement was deficient, plus $200 per day for the remaining 585 days the January 28, 2019, registration statement was deficient (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 585 x $200.00 = $118,500.00); and
b. A maximum administrative penalty in the amount of $15,500.00 for Respondent's delinquent third quarter 2019 expense report/statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold, calculated as follows: $50 per day for the first ten days the third quarter 2019 expense report/statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $100.00 per day for the next ten days the third quarter 2019 expense report/statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent, plus $200 per day for the remaining 70 days the third quarter 2019 expense report/statement of failure to meet the reporting threshold was delinquent (10 days x $50.00 + 10 days x $100.00 + 70 x $200.00 = $15,500.00).
5. Westmoreland Economic Dev Initiative for Growth is ordered to pay the aforesaid two administrative penalties in the total amount of $134,000.00 by way of certified check(s) or money order(s) in the total amount of $134,000.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to this Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
6. Noncompliance with Paragraph 5 of this Order will result in the Commission initiating appropriate enforcement action(s).
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148-SL
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