Louisiana Senate Bill 11 (2008)
From Sunshine Review
Contents |
[edit] Purpose
Senate Bill 11 provides for greater transparency among lobbyist activities. It defines lobbyist expenditures as any form of economic benefit or gift given to any legislature, immediate family member of a legislature, or any public servant in the legislative branch. This also applies to any member of the executive branch, any head of an executive branch department, and immediate family members of members of the executive branch.
[edit] Lobbyist Registration
Lobbyists must register with the Board of Ethics within 5 days of becoming a lobbyist or within 5 days of their first lobbying activity, whichever comes first. The information for registration includes the lobbyist's name and address, the name and address of all employers, and the compensation received from each in the following brackets:
Category I, $24,999 or less. Category II, $25,000-$49,999. Category III, $50,000-$99,999. Category IV, $100,000-$249,999. Category V, $250,000 or more.
Also an indication of what subject matters he or she will be lobbying for or against. The identity of any legislator or spouse of a legislator with whom he has had a business relationship with in the past twelve months. As well as the identity of any member of the Executive branch or spouse of an executive branch member who the lobbyist has had a business relationship with in the past 12 months.
[edit] Public Record
This registration will be filed electronically to the Board of Ethics and will be published as a public record via the internet.
If any changes to the registration exist this information will also be made public.
[edit] Expense Reports
All registered lobbyists must produce and submit electronically an expense report every month, detailing all expenses incurred through lobbying during the month. These reports must be submitted by the 25th day of the following month. The lobbyist must keep records of these reports for 3 years. These reports will also become public records. These records must include a total of how much money was spent lobbying each individual in the legislative branch or executive branch , their spouses and children. This Bill details the form in which the report is to be filed.
[edit] Penalties
For reports that are incomplete or inaccurate, the Board of Ethics will send a notice of delinquency describing what needs to be done, and the lobbyist will have 14 business days to complete the information. If the lobbyist makes the deadline then no penalties will be assessed. Any lobbyist who fails to make the deadline or publishes false information will be subject to a civil infraction, punishable by a $100 fine for every day of non-compliance. [1]
[edit] House Votes
- Yeas: 104
- Nays: 0
- Absent: 0
[edit] Senate Votes
- Yeas: 39
- Nays: 0
- Absent: 0
