The bill creates a new category of lobbyist called nonprofit lobbyists, which is intended to recognize the distinct role of individuals employed by nonprofit organizations for lobbying purposes. Here are the key points of the bill:
Nonprofit Lobbyists: These lobbyists are employed exclusively by a single nonprofit entity and engage in lobbying as an incidental part of their duties.
Exemptions for Nonprofit Lobbyists: Nonprofit lobbyists are exempt from the registration and disclosure statement requirements that apply to professional lobbyists, provided they meet certain criteria.
Lobbying Time Limitations: A nonprofit entity may use a nonprofit lobbyist for a maximum of 30 days in a state fiscal year. Of these, no more than 20 days may occur during the legislative session of the General Assembly.
Reporting Requirements:
Nonprofit entities must report to the secretary of state within 72 hours after the nonprofit lobbyist engages in lobbying activities. The report must include:
Name of the nonprofit lobbyist.
Name of the nonprofit entity.
Date of lobbying activity.
Legislative matters lobbied on.
Bill numbers and the nonprofit entity’s position on the bills (support, oppose, amend, or monitor).
Transition to Professional Lobbyist:
If a nonprofit lobbyist no longer qualifies (e.g., they exceed the time limits or no longer meet the criteria), or if their nonprofit entity fails to comply with the rules, the individual must register as a professional lobbyist and comply with the full requirements of a professional lobbyist.
This bill aims to streamline lobbying regulations for nonprofits while maintaining transparency, especially regarding the lobbying activities of nonprofit organizations at the state level.
Summary
Currently, a lobbyist may be either a professional lobbyist or a
volunteer lobbyist. A professional lobbyist must register with the secretary of state before conducting lobbying activities with one or more covered officials. For each month in which a professional lobbyist lobbies one or more covered officials, a professional lobbyist must complete and submit a disclosure statement to the secretary of state. The bill creates a new category of lobbyist for nonprofit lobbyists
and exempts nonprofit lobbyists from the registration and disclosure statement requirements for professional lobbyists. A nonprofit lobbyist is a lobbyist who is exclusively employed by a single nonprofit entity and who lobbies as an incidental part of the lobbyist's duties with the nonprofit entity. A nonprofit entity may use a nonprofit lobbyist to lobby a maximum of 30 days during a state fiscal year, with a maximum of 20 of those days occurring when the general assembly is in session. A nonprofit entity that employs a nonprofit lobbyist must report to the secretary of state the following information within 72 hours of engaging in lobbying of one or more covered officials:
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The name of the nonprofit lobbyist;
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The full legal name of the nonprofit entity on whose behalf the nonprofit lobbyist lobbied;
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The date on which the nonprofit lobbyist engaged in lobbying;
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Any matter about which the nonprofit lobbyist lobbied for the reported day; and
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The bill number of the legislation about which each nonprofit lobbyist lobbied for the reported day and whether the nonprofit entity is supporting, opposing, requesting amendments, or monitoring the legislation.
A nonprofit entity may submit a single form for more than one nonprofit lobbyist if more than one nonprofit lobbyist lobbied for the nonprofit entity on the same day.
A lobbyist who was a nonprofit lobbyist but no longer qualifies as
a nonprofit lobbyist or who is employed by a nonprofit entity that does not comply with the timing limitations, and who meets the requirements of a professional lobbyist, must register and file disclosure statements with the secretary of state beginning in the month in which the lobbyist first lobbied as a professional lobbyist and must comply with the regulations imposed on a professional lobbyist.
