The Law Punishing a Person in Public Office Who Gains Profits by the Good Offices (enacted on November 29, 2000; Law No. 130 of 2000) entered into force in March 2001. Under the law, a member or chairperson of the National Diet or local assemblies shall be punished for receiving pecuniary benefits as a reward for asking for actions by public officials through their good offices by using their influence based on their power, when requested, with respect to a sales contract, etc. to be concluded by the state or a local public entity or an administrative action against a particular person. Publicly-paid secretaries of a Diet member shall also be subject to the provisions of this law. Subsequently, the law was amended to add private secretaries of National Diet members (persons who are employed by a National Diet member in order to assist their political activities) to the list of those subject to punishment under the law (Law No. 91, 2002). The amended law entered into force in August 2002.