Chapter 451

2008 -- S 2892

Enacted 07/08/08

 

A N A C T

RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY - LOBBYING

          

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Cote, Lenihan, Perry, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: March 25, 2008

    

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Section 22-10-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 22-10 entitled "Lobbying"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     22-10-9. Financial reports. -- (a) (1) Every person that engages any person to act as a

lobbyist concerning legislative matters, and the lobbyist, shall individually file with the secretary

of state a complete and itemized report of all expenditures made for the purpose of lobbying,

including, but not limited to, advertising expenses and all compensation paid to the lobbyists for

lobbying, and all campaign contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) to state and

municipal elected officials and state political action committees. The report shall also include any

expenditure, gift, or honorarium of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more for each occurrence

concerning any legislative or executive official paid or incurred by the person who engages the

lobbyist and the lobbyist. The report shall include the names of the individuals receiving or in

whose behalf the expenditures have been made, and the reason, date, and place of the

expenditures.

      (2) Any function to which the entire membership of the general assembly, or of either

chamber or of any legally constituted legislative committee or commission within the general

assembly, is invited, which is sponsored by any person, corporation, or association having

engaged any person to act as a lobbyist, or by any lobbyist, shall be deemed a lobbying activity,

and any funds expended or incurred for that function shall be set forth in the financial report.

      (3) The initial report shall be filed by the person, corporation, or association having

engaged any person to act as a lobbyist and by the lobbyist at the time of their initial registration,

and updated reports shall be filed with the secretary of state by the fifteenth (15th) day of each

month thereafter, beginning in March until the earlier of the termination of the lobbyist's

engagement or the final adjournment of the general assembly. A final report shall be filed no later

than thirty (30) days after the earlier of the termination of the lobbyist's engagement or the final

adjournment of the general assembly; provided, however, in the year 2005, the first updated

report filed under this subsection shall be filed by June 15th.

      (4) All reports shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, and the reports

shall be open for public inspection.

      (5) In the event no compensation has been paid or received, and no expenses have been

paid or incurred, an annual statement to that effect may be filed with the secretary of state in lieu

of the report form.

      (b) During any special session of the general assembly, every person, corporation, or

association that engages any person to act as a lobbyist, and every lobbyist so engaged, shall

register within twenty-four (24) hours of the commencement of the session. The initial financial

reports shall be filed within twenty-four (24) hours after the date of the employment for the

special session, and updated reports shall be filed every fourteen (14) days thereafter. The final

report shall be filed no later than seven (7) days after the date of adjournment.

      (c) Not later than January 15 of each year, every lobbyist and every individual, firm,

business, corporation, association, partnership, or other group which employed a lobbyist or

engaged any person to act as a lobbyist or who was required to register with the office of

secretary of state during the preceding year pursuant to section 22-10-6 shall file with the

secretary of state a complete and detailed report of all money or anything of value which in the

aggregate exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250) provided or promised to any major state

decision-maker within the preceding calendar year. "Money" and "anything of value" in this

subsection and in subsection (d) of this section shall mean any fee, salary, commission, expense

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

services, gratuities or special discounts, or any other form of recompense that constitutes income

under the Federal Internal Revenue Code.

      (d) Not later than January 15 of each year, every individual, firm, business, corporation,

association, partnership or other group specified in subsection (c) of this section shall provide an

exact copy of the report required in subsection (c) of this section to the Rhode Island ethics

commission and to any major state decision-maker to whom it provided or promised money or

anything of value which in the aggregate exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the

preceding calendar year.

 

     SECTION 2. Section 42-139-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-139 entitled

"Executive Branch and Public Corporation Lobbying" is hereby amended to read as follows:

 

     42-139-6. Financial reports. -- (a) Every person, corporation, or association that engages

any person to act as a lobbyist concerning executive or public corporation matters, and the

lobbyist, shall individually file with the secretary of state a complete and detailed report of all

compensation paid to the lobbyist for lobbying, and all campaign contributions in excess of one

hundred dollars ($100) or more to state and municipal elected officials and state political action

committees. The report shall include the total amount expended for lobbying purposes, and an

itemization of any expenditure, gift, or honorarium of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more for

each occurrence paid or incurred by the person, corporation, or association or lobbyist for the

specific purpose of promoting or opposing in any manner action by members of the executive

branch or of public corporations. These reports shall include the names of the persons receiving

or in whose behalf the expenditures have been made, and the reason, time, and place of the

expenditures.

      (b) The initial report shall be filed by the person, corporation, or association having

engaged any person to act as a lobbyist and by the lobbyist at the time of their initial registration,

and updated reports shall be filed with the secretary of state semi-annually. The updated reports

shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each reporting period or if earlier, after

the termination of the lobbyist's engagement, and shall include expenditures for the period from

January 1 through June 30, and July through December 31, respectively or, if earlier, through the

date of termination of the lobbyist's engagement.

      (c) All reports shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, and the reports

shall be open for public inspection.

      (d) In the event no compensation has been paid or received, and no expenses have been

paid or incurred, an annual statement to that effect may be filed with the secretary of state in lieu

of the report form.

 

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

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LC01720

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