(A) Except when another penalty is specifically set forth in this chapter, any officer or employee of the county or any county agency who is found by the Board of Ethics to have violated any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a civil offense and may be subject to a civil fine imposed by the Board of Ethics not to exceed $1,000, which may be recovered by the cities and the county who are then participating in an ongoing joint Ethics Board, being the Board of Ethics, created by this chapter and interlocal agreement. Any civil fine shall be divided equally between the participating parties.
(B) In addition to all other penalties which may be imposed under this chapter, any officer or employee of the county or any county agency who is found by the Board of Ethics to have violated any provision of this chapter shall forfeit to the county or the county agency an amount equal to the economic benefit or gain which the officer or employee is determined by the Board of Ethics to have realized as a result of the violation. The amount of any forfeiture may be recovered by the county and county that are then participating in an ongoing joint Ethics Board, being the Board of Ethics, in a civil action in the nature of debt, if the offender fails to pay the amount of the forfeiture within a prescribed period of time.
(C) In addition to all other penalties which may be imposed under this chapter, a finding by the Board of Ethics that an officer or employee of the county or any county agency is guilty of a violation of this chapter shall be sufficient cause for removal, suspension, demotion or other disciplinary action by the executive authority of the county or county agency, or by any other officer or agency having the power of removal or discipline. Any action to remove or discipline any officer or employee for a violation of this chapter shall be taken in accordance with all applicable ordinances and regulations of the county and all applicable laws of the commonwealth.
(D) Any person who fails or refuses to file the statement or who fails or refuses to remedy a deficiency in the filing identified in the notice under § 31.40 within the time period established in the notice shall be guilty of a civil offense and shall be subject to a civil fine imposed by the Board of Ethics in an amount not to exceed $25 per day, up to a maximum total civil fine of $500. Any civil fine imposed by the Board of Ethics under § 31.40 may be recovered by the county in a civil action in the nature of debt if the offender fails or refuses to pay the penalty within a prescribed period of time.
(E) Based on the violation described § 31.56(H)(4), the Board of Ethics may issue an order requiring the violator to pay a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.
(Ord. 94-130.1, passed 12-12-1994)