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2010 SESSION

10103296D
SENATE BILL NO. 507
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 13, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-428, and 2.2-431 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Secretary of the Commonwealth; lobbyist disclosure.
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Patron-- Smith
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Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-428, and 2.2-431 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.2-426. Lobbyist reporting; penalty.

A. Each lobbyist shall file a separate annual report of expenditures, including gifts, for each principal for whom he lobbies by July 1 for the preceding 12-month period complete through April 30.

B. Each principal who expends more than $500 to employ or compensate multiple lobbyists shall be responsible for filing a consolidated lobbyist report pursuant to this section in any case in which the lobbyists are each exempt under the provisions of subdivision 7 or 8 of § 2.2-420 from the reporting requirements of this section.

C. The report shall be on a form provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, which shall be substantially as follows and shall be accompanied by instructions provided by the Secretary.


                      LOBBYIST'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
  PART I:
  (1)  PRINCIPAL: ..........................................................
       In Part I, item 2a, provide the name of the individual authorizing your
       employment as a lobbyist. The lobbyist filing this statement MAY NOT
       list his name in item 2a. THE INDIVIDUAL LISTED IN PART I, ITEM 2A,
       MUST SIGN THE PRINCIPAL'S STATEMENT.
  (2a) Name: ...............................................................
  (2b) Permanent Business Address: .........................................
  (2c) Business Telephone: .................................................
  (3)  Provide a list of executive and legislative actions (with as much
       specificity as possible) for which you lobbied and a description of
       activities conducted.
       .....................................................................
       .....................................................................
       .....................................................................
  (4)  INCORPORATED FILINGS: If you are filing an incorporated disclosure
       statement, please complete the following:
       Individual filing financial information: ............................
       Individuals to be included in the filing: ...........................
       .....................................................................
  (5)  Please indicate which schedules will be attached to your disclosure
       statement:
       [ ] Schedule A: Entertainment Expenses
       [ ] Schedule B: Gifts
       [ ] Schedule C: Other Expenses
  (6)  EXPENDITURE TOTALS:
       a) ENTERTAINMENT ..........................................  $ ......
       b) GIFTS ..................................................  $ ......
       c) OFFICE EXPENSES ........................................  $ ......
       d) COMMUNICATIONS .........................................  $ ......
       e) PERSONAL LIVING AND TRAVEL EXPENSES ....................  $ ......
       f) COMPENSATION OF LOBBYISTS ..............................  $ ......
       g) HONORARIA ..............................................  $ ......
       h) REGISTRATION COSTS .....................................  $ ......
       i) OTHER ..................................................  $ ......
       TOTAL .....................................................  $ ......
  PART II:
  (1a) NAME OF LOBBYIST: ...................................................
  (1b) Permanent Business Address: .........................................
  (1c) Business Telephone: .................................................
  (2)  As a lobbyist, you are (check one)
       [ ] EMPLOYED (on the payroll of the principal)
       [ ] RETAINED (not on the payroll of the principal, however compensated)
       [ ] NOT COMPENSATED (not compensated; expenses may be reimbursed)
  (3)  List all lobbyists other than yourself who registered to represent
       your principal.
       .....................................................................
       .....................................................................
       .....................................................................
  (4)  If you selected "EMPLOYED" as your answer to Part II, item 2, provide
       your job title.
       .....................................................................
  PLEASE NOTE: Some lobbyists are not individually compensated for lobbying
  activities. This may occur when several members of a firm represent a single
  principal. The principal, in turn, makes a single payment to the firm. If this
  describes your situation, do not answer Part II, items 5a and 5b. Instead,
  complete Part III, items 1 and 2.
  (5a) What was the DOLLAR AMOUNT OF YOUR COMPENSATION as a lobbyist? (If you
       have job responsibilities other than those involving lobbying, you may
       have to prorate to determine the part of your salary attributable to your
       lobbying activities.) Transfer your answer to this item to Part I, item 6f.
  (5b) Explain how you arrived at your answer to Part II, item 5a.
       .....................................................................
       .....................................................................
       .....................................................................
  PART III:
  PLEASE NOTE: If you answered Part II, items 5a and 5b, you WILL NOT complete
  this section.
  (1) List all members of your firm, organization, association, corporation, or
      other entity who furnished lobbying services to your principal.
      ......................................................................
      ......................................................................
      ......................................................................
  (2) Indicate the total amount paid to your firm, organization, association,
      corporation or other entity for services rendered. Transfer your answer to
      this item to Part I, item 6f..........................................
                                SCHEDULE A
                          ENTERTAINMENT EXPENSES
  PLEASE NOTE: Any single entertainment event included in the expense totals of
  the principal, with a value greater than $50, should be itemized below.
  Transfer any totals from this schedule to Part I, item 6a. (Please duplicate
  as needed.)
  Date and Location of Event:
  ..........................................................................
  ..........................................................................
  Description of Event:
  ..........................................................................
  ..........................................................................
  Total Number of Persons Attending:
  ..........................................................................
  Names of Legislative and Executive Officials Attending: (List names only if
  the average value for each person attending the event was greater than $50.)
  ..........................................................................
  ..........................................................................
  ..........................................................................
  ..........................................................................
  Food .......................................................  $ ..........
  Beverages ..................................................  $ ..........
  Transportation of Legislative and Executive Officials ......  $ ..........
  Lodging of Legislative and Executive Officials .............  $ ..........
  Performers, Speakers, Etc. .................................  $ ..........
  Displays ...................................................  $ ..........
  Rentals ....................................................  $ ..........
  Service Personnel ..........................................  $ ..........
  Miscellaneous ..............................................  $ ..........
  TOTAL ......................................................  $ ..........
                                SCHEDULE B
                                   GIFTS
  PLEASE NOTE: Any single gift reported in the expense totals of the principal,
  with a value greater than $50, should be itemized below. (Report meals,
  entertainment and travel under Schedule A.) Transfer any totals from this
  schedule to Part I, item 6b. (Please duplicate as needed.)
                                   Name of each 
                                   legislative or
                                   executive official      Cost of
  Date         Description         who is a recipient      individual
  of gift:     of gift:            of a gift:              gift:
  ...........  ..................  ......................  $ ..........
  ...........  ..................  ......................  $ ..........
  ...........  ..................  ......................  $ ..........
  ...........  ..................  ......................  $ ..........
  TOTAL COST TO PRINCIPAL ...............................  $ ..........
                                SCHEDULE C
                              OTHER EXPENSES
  PLEASE NOTE: This section is provided for any lobbying-related expenses not
  covered in Part I, items 6a - 6h. An example of an expenditure to be listed
  on schedule C would be the rental of a bill box during the General Assembly
  session. Transfer the total from this schedule to Part I, item 6i. (Please
  duplicate as needed.)
  DATE OF EXPENSE     DESCRIPTION OF EXPENSE            AMOUNT
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  ..................  ................................  $ ..........
  TOTAL "OTHER" EXPENSES .............................  $ ..........
  PART IV: STATEMENTS
  Both the lobbyist and principal officer must sign the disclosure statement,
  attesting to its completeness and accuracy. The following items are mandatory
  and if they are not properly completed, the entire filing will be rejected
  and returned to the lobbyist:
  (1) All signatures on the statement must be ORIGINAL in the format specified
      in the instructions provided by the Secretary that accompany this form.
      No stamps, or other reproductions of the individual's signature will be
      accepted.
  (2) An individual MAY NOT sign the disclosure statement as lobbyist and
      principal officer.
                           STATEMENT OF LOBBYIST
  I, the undersigned registered lobbyist, do state that the information
  furnished on this disclosure statement and on all accompanying attachments
  required to be made thereto is, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
  complete and accurate.
                                                   ........................
                                                   Signature of lobbyist
   
                                                   ........................
                                                   Date 
                          STATEMENT OF PRINCIPAL
  I, the undersigned principal (or an authorized official thereof), do state
  that the information furnished on this disclosure statement and on all
  accompanying attachments required to be made thereto is, to the best of my
  knowledge and belief, complete and accurate.
                                                   .......................
                                                   Signature of principal
   
                                                   .......................
                                                   Date 

 Period Covered: May 1, (YYYY) to April 30, (YYYY)
  
 1. Name of Principal
  
 Principal:___________________________________________________________
  
 2. Lobbyist Information
  
 Last Name:_____________________________________ Suffix:______________
  
 First Name:_____________________________ Middle Name:________________
  
 Business Address:_______________________________ Suite/Apt:__________
  
 City:_____________________________ State:__________ Zip:_____________
  
 Work Phone: (____)___________________ Email:_________________________
  
 3. Lobbyist’s Relationship to Principal
  
 [       ] Lobbyist was Employed by Principal
           Job Title:_________________________________________________
           Total compensation for lobbying during period: $___________
           Does this amount represent lobbyist’s entire salary during
             period? Yes______No______
           If answer is “No,” explain how you arrived at amount com-
             pensated for lobbying:
           ___________________________________________________________
           ___________________________________________________________
  
 [       ] Lobbyist was Retained by Principal
           Name of Firm:______________________________________________
           Total Compensation paid to firm for lobbying during period:
             $ ____________
           Does this amount represent total amount paid to firm
             (retainers and fees) during period? Yes_____ No______
           If answer is “No,” explain how you arrived at amount com-
             pensated for lobbying:
           ___________________________________________________________
           ___________________________________________________________
 [       ] Lobbyist was a Nonpaid Volunteer for the Principal
  
 4. Incorporated Reporting
 Is this lobbyist part of an incorporated filing that includes actions
   taken on behalf of a client and the expenditure summary for more
   than one lobbyist registered on behalf of the client?
   Yes_____ No______
  
 If “No,” proceed to Section 5.
 If “Yes,” provide the name of lobbyist of record for the incorporated
   filing:
  
 Lobbyist of record for incorporated filing:
  
 Last Name:____________ First Name:____________ Middle Name:__________
  
 If you are the lobbyist of record, proceed to Section 5.
 If you are not the lobbyist of record, skip Sections 5 and 6 and pro-
   ceed to Section 7.
  
 5. Legislative and Executive Actions, and Procurement Transactions
  
 Did lobbyist actually engage in lobbying on the principal’s behalf
   during the time period covered? Yes_____ No______
  
 If “No,” proceed to Section 6.
  
 List the general matters of concern that you (and any other lobbyists
   included in an incorporated filing) lobbied on behalf of the princi-
   pal:
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 List all legislative actions, including where appropriate the assigned
 House of Delegates or Senate bill numbers, that you and any other
 lobbyist included in an incorporated filing sought to influence the
 outcome of during the period of this report.
 "Sought to influence" means any direct contact by any means to a
 member of the (i)legislature or legislative staff,(ii) executive
 branch or staff, or (iii) public, seeking support of or opposition to
 a particular issue.
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)
  
 List all executive actions that you and any other lobbyist included in
 an incorporated filing sought to influence during disclosure period.
 "Sought to influence" means any direct contact by any means to a
 member of the (i)legislature or legislative staff,(ii) executive
 branch or staff, or (iii) public, seeking support of or opposition to
 a particular issue.
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)
  
 List all procurement transactions that you and any other lobbyist included
 in an incorporated filing sought to influence during disclosure period.
 "Procurement transaction" means all functions that pertain to the
 obtaining of any goods, services, or construction, including description
 of requirements, selection of sources, preparation and award of contract,
 and all phases of contract administration.
 "Sought to influence" means any direct contact by any means to a
 member of the (i)legislature or legislative staff,(ii) executive
 branch or staff, or (iii) public, seeking support of or opposition to
 a particular issue.
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 _____________________________________________________________________
 (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)
  
 6. Financial Summary
  
 Expenditure Totals
 a) Entertainment                $_______[      ]“Schedule A” Attached
 b) Gifts                        $_______[      ]“Schedule B” Attached
 c) Office Expenses              $________
 d) Communications               $________
 e) Personal Living/Travel       $________
 f) Compensation of Lobbyists    $________
 g) Registration Fees            $________
 h) Other                        $_______[      ]“Schedule C” Attached
  
 Total Expenditures:             $________
  
 If the expenditure totals above represent an incorporated filing for
 more than one lobbyist, list the names of all other lobbyists includ-
 ed in these expenditure totals:
  
 Name (Last Name, First Name)      Firm (if retained) or Title
                                     (if employed)
  
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
  (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)
  
 7. Statement of Lobbyist
  
 I, the undersigned registered lobbyist, do state that all the infor-
 mation provided on this disclosure statement and all the required
 attachments made thereto are, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
 complete and accurate.
  
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 Signature                         Date
  
 8. Statement of Authorized Representative of Principal
  
 I, the undersigned authorized representative of the principal, do
 state that all the information provided on this disclosure statement
 and all the required attachments made thereto are, to the best of my
 knowledge and belief, complete and accurate.
  
 Authorized Representative (Cannot be same person as lobbyist listed
 above)
  
 Last Name:_____________________________________ Suffix:______________
  
 First Name:_______________________ Middle Name:______________________
  
 Business Street Address:____________________________ Suite/Apt:______
  
 City:__________________________________ State:___________ Zip:_______
  
 Work Phone: (____)___________________ Email:_________________________
  
 ____________________________      ___________________________________
 Signature                         Date
  
                         Schedule A
                    Entertainment Expenses
  
 This schedule shall be completed each time the lobbyist spends money
 on behalf of the principal for any entertainment expense in which
 (a) guests included executive or legislative officials and (b) the
 total cost of the event was $50 or more.
  
 If (a) and (b) above are true, the lobbyist shall complete this form
 even if the principal’s share of event was less than $50.
  
 Date of Event (MM/DD/YYYY): ____/____/_________
 Description of Event:________________________________________________
 Location of Event:___________________________________________________
 City Where Event Held:__________________________________ State_______
  
 Total Cost                Total Number of       Average Cost
 of Event  divided by      Persons Attending  =  Per Person for Event
  
 $__________   divided by  ______________      = $______________
  
 Did principal pay for entire cost of the event? Yes_____ No______
 If No, list the principal’s share of the total cost of the event:
 $______________
  
 Summary of Principal’s Share of Costs
 Food/Beverage:        $_________
 Transportation:       $_________
 Lodging:              $_________
 Performers/Speakers:  $_________
 Rentals/Displays:     $_________
 Service/Tip:          $_________
 Other:                $_________     Describe “Other”:_______________
  
 Total:                $_________     (Include this amount in “enter-
                                      tainment” expenses in expendi-
                                      ture totals.)
  
 (Include the total amount in "entertainment" expenses in expenditure
 totals. If the entertainment event was open to the public or unrelated
 to executive or legislative action and reportable executive or
 legislative officials represented less than 10 percent of the
 attendees, then the total cost of the event need not be reported.
 However, the total cost of entertaining the reportable officials
 shall be reported.)
  
 Number of Executive and Legislative Officials Attending:_____________
  
 If average cost per person is $50 or more, provide names of executive
 and administrative officials who attended:
  
 Name (Last Name, First Name)                        Title
  
 _____________________________________________       _________________
 _____________________________________________       _________________
 _____________________________________________       _________________
 _____________________________________________       _________________
 _____________________________________________       _________________
 (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)
  
 _____________________________________________________________________
                         Schedule B
                           Gifts
  
 This schedule shall be filled out each time the principal contributes
 all or part of a gift to an executive or legislative official valued
 at $50 or more. (Complete this form even if the principal’s share
 of gift was less than $50.)
  
 Date of Gift:  ___/___/____     Total Cost of Gift: $________________
 Did principal’s share account for the total value of the gift?
  Yes_____ No______
 If No, list the principal’s share of the cost of the total gift:
  $ _____________
 Description of Gift:_________________________________________________
  
 Recipient Last Name:_______________________________ Suffix:__________
 First Name:_________________________ Middle Name:____________________
  
 Recipient’s Title:___________________________________________________
  
 Date of Gift: ___/___/____     Total Cost of Gift: $_________________
 Did principal’s share account for the total value of the gift?
  Yes_____ No______
 If No, list the principal’s share of the cost of the total gift:
  $ _____________
 Description of Gift:_________________________________________________
 Recipient Last Name:_______________________________ Suffix:__________
 First Name:______________________ Middle Name:_______________________
  
 Recipient’s Title:___________________________________________________
  
 Date of Gift: __/___/_____    Total Cost of Gift: $__________________
 Did principal’s share account for the total value of the gift?
  Yes______No______
 If No, list the principal’s share of the cost of the total gift:
 $ _____________
 Description of Gift:_________________________________________________
 Recipient Last Name:________________________________ Suffix:_________
 First Name:_______________________ Middle Name:______________________
 Recipient’s Title:___________________________________________________
  
                         Schedule C
                       Other Expenses
  
 This schedule shall be filled out for each time principal incurred
 lobbying-related expense of $250 or more that is not covered by line
 items “a” through “g” in the expenditure totals. Any expense related
 to any legislative or executive action and procurement transaction listed
 in Section 5 shall be included.
  
 Date           Description                                 Amount
 ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________
 ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________
 ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________
 ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________
 ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________
  
 Total (Include total amount to expenditure totals)         $_________
  

D. A person who signs the disclosure statement knowing it to contain a material misstatement of fact shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.

E. Each lobbyist shall send to each legislative and executive official who is required to be identified by name on Schedule A or B of the Lobbyist's Disclosure Form a copy of Schedule A or B or a summary of the information pertaining to that official. Copies or summaries shall be provided to the official by December 15 for the preceding 12-month period complete through November 30.

§ 2.2-428. Standards for automated preparation and transmittal of lobbyists' disclosure statements; database.

A. The In lieu of a hard copy, the Secretary shall accept any lobbyist's disclosure statement required by § 2.2-426 filed by computer or electronic means in accordance with the standards approved by the Secretary and using software meeting standards approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may provide software to filers without charge or at a reasonable cost. The Secretary may prescribe the method of execution and certification of electronically filed statements and the procedures for receiving statements in the office of the Secretary.

B. The Secretary shall establish a lobbyist disclosure database, available to the public, from required disclosure statements filed electronically and may enter into that database information from required disclosure statements filed by other methods.

§ 2.2-431. Penalties; filing of substituted statement.

A. The lobbyist shall sign the disclosure statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 attesting to its completeness and accuracy. The Secretary shall review each statement for completeness and accuracy and if a statement is not properly completed, the entire filing shall be rejected and returned to the lobbyist. The lobbyist shall submit a revised statement within 30 days from receipt of the returned statement.

B. Every lobbyist failing to file the statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 within the time prescribed therein shall be assessed a civil penalty of fifty dollars $50, and every individual failing to file the statement within ten 30 days after the time prescribed herein shall be assessed an additional civil penalty of fifty dollars $50 per day from the eleventh thirty-first day of such default until the statement is filed. The penalties shall be assessed and collected by the Secretary. The Attorney General shall assist the Secretary in collecting the penalties, upon request.

BC. Every lobbyist's principal whose lobbyist fails to file the statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 shall be assessed a civil penalty of fifty dollars $50, and shall be assessed an additional civil penalty of fifty dollars $50 per day from the eleventh thirty-first day of such default until the statement is filed. The penalty shall be assessed and collected by the Secretary. The Attorney General shall assist the Secretary in collecting the penalties, upon request.

CD. No individual who has failed to file the statement required by § 2.2-426 or who has failed to pay all penalties assessed pursuant to this section, shall register or act as a lobbyist as long as he remains in default.

DE. Whenever any lobbyist is or will be in default under § 2.2-426, and the reasons for such default are or will be beyond his control, or the control of his principal, or both, the Secretary may suspend the assessment of any penalty otherwise assessable and accept a substituted statement, upon the submission of sworn proofs that shall satisfy him that the default has been beyond the control of the lobbyist or his principal, and that the substituted statement contains the most accurate and complete information available after the exercise of due diligence.

EF. Penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit to the general fund.