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2011 SESSION

10101075D
HOUSE BILL NO. 524
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 12, 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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Patrons-- Nixon, Anderson, Athey, Iaquinto, Landes and Lingamfelter
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Referred to Committee on General Laws
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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.)
 Date       Description    Name of each           Cost of
 of gift:   of gift:       legislative or         individual
                           executive official     gift:
                           who is a recipient
                           of a 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 
 
 
 
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
 
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:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(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" shall mean 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 on, 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.
 
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 31st 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.

B.C. 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 31st 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.

C.D. 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.

D.E. 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.

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