SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2014 SESSION

14100775D
SENATE BILL NO. 20
Offered January 8, 2014
Prefiled December 6, 2013
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.
----------
Patron-- Smith
----------
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
----------

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
       compensated 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
       compensated for lobbying:
       _____________________________________________________________
       _____________________________________________________________
  [  ] Lobbyist was a Nonpaid Volunteer for 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 proceed 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 principal:
     _______________________________________________________________
     _______________________________________________________________
     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 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 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 included in these expenditure totals:
                                    Firm (if retained) or Title
     Name (Last Name, First Name)          (if employed)
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)
  7. Statement of Lobbyist.
     I, the undersigned registered lobbyist, 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.
     ____________________________   ________________________________
     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 a 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: _______________________________________________
  (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)
 
                              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 of Section 6 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 is 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. Returned statements; penalties.

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.

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 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.

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.