Chapter 05-011

2005 -- S 0247 AS AMENDED

Enacted 04/07/05

A N A C T

RELATING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - LOBBYING

Introduced By: Senators Lenihan, and Cote

Date Introduced: February 03, 2005

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. 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 final adjournment of the general assembly. A final

report shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the final adjournment; 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) 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) shall provide an exact copy of

the report required in subsection (c) 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. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00990

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