2023 -- H 5614

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LC001772

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

LOBBYING REFORM ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Place, Rea, Chippendale, Newberry, and Nardone

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-139.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-139.1 entitled "The

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Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-139.1-3. Definitions.

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     (a) For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

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     (1) “Appointed” or “engaged” means receiving compensation from another for lobbying.

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     (2) “Compensation” means any remuneration or earnings received or to be received for

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services rendered as a lobbyist, including any fee, salary, forbearance, forgiveness, or any other

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form of recompense, and any combination of these, but does not include reimbursement for

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incidental expenses.

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     (3) “Lobbying” means acting directly or soliciting others to act for the purpose of

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promoting, opposing, amending, or influencing any action or inaction by any member of the

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executive or legislative branch of state or municipal government, local fire district, or any public

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corporation.

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     (4) “Lobbying firm” means a business entity that receives compensation for lobbying.

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     (5) “Lobbyist” means any of the following:

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     (i) “Contract lobbyist” means any person who engages in lobbying as the appointed or

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engaged representative of another person; or

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     (ii) “In-house lobbyist” means any employee, officer, director, or agent of a corporation,

 

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partnership, or other business entity or organization whose job responsibilities include lobbying; or

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     (iii) “Governmental lobbyist” means any employee of any federal, state, or local

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government office or agency or any public corporation who engages in lobbying.

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     (6) “Money” and “anything of value” means any fee, salary, commission, expense

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allowance, forbearance, forgiveness, royalty, rent, capital gain, gift, loan, reward, favor or service,

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gratuity or special discount, or any other form of recompense that constitutes income under the

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Federal Internal Revenue Code, but shall not include campaign contributions.

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     (7) “Person” means an individual, firm, business, corporation, association, partnership, or

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other group.

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     (8) “Public corporation” means a body corporate and politic acting as a public corporation,

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which has been organized pursuant to law and granted certain powers, rights, and privileges by the

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general laws, but which has a separate and distinct legal existence from the state, and is not a

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department of the state.

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     (9) “Secretary” means the Rhode Island secretary of state.

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     (b) The following persons shall not be deemed “lobbyists” for purposes of this chapter:

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     (1) Licensed attorneys who:

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     (i) Represent a client in a contested administrative proceeding, a licensing or permitting

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proceeding, or a disciplinary proceeding; and

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     (ii) Engage in any communications with an executive branch official or office if those

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communications are incidental to the attorney’s representation of their client rather than lobbying

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activities as defined in this section.

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     (2) A qualified expert witness testifying in an administrative proceeding or legislative

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hearing, either on behalf of an interested party or at the request of the agency or legislative body or

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committee;

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     (3) Any member of the general assembly, general officer of the state, municipal elected or

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appointed official, head of any executive department of state government, and/or head of any public

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corporation, or a duly appointed designee of one of the foregoing offices acting in the official

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capacity of said office, and any judge of this state acting in their official capacity;

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     (4) Persons participating in a governmental advisory committee or task force;

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     (5) Persons appearing on behalf of a business entity by which they are employed or

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organization with which they are associated, if that person’s regular duties do not include lobbying

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or government relations;

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     (6) Persons appearing solely on their own behalf;

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     (7) Employees or agents of the news media who write, publish, or broadcast news items or

 

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editorials which directly or indirectly promote or oppose any action or inaction by any member or

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office of the executive or legislative branch of state government;

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     (8) Individuals participating in or attending a rally, protest, or other public assemblage

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organized for the expression of political or social views, positions, or beliefs;

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     (9) Individuals participating in any proceeding pursuant to chapter 35 of this title;

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     (10) Individuals, other than employees or agents of the news media, involved in the

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issuance and dissemination of any publication, including data, research, or analysis on public policy

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issues that is available to the general public, including news media reports, editorials, commentary,

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or advertisements; and

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     (11) Individuals responding to a request for information made by a state agency,

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department, legislative body, or public corporation.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND

LOBBYING REFORM ACT

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     This act would expand the lobbying reform act to apply to persons who lobby municipal

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government executives and legislative bodies, as well as local fire districts.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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