HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1503 FILED ON: 1/13/2009
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3502
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand Nine
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An Act clarifying disclosure requirements for lobbyists..
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1: Section 39 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking, in lines 110 and 128, the word “fifty” in each instance and inserting in each instance in place thereof the following:- “25”
SECTION 2: Section 43 of said chapter 3, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking, in lines 1 to 3, the following:- “On or before the fifteenth day of July, complete from January first through June thirtieth; and the fifteenth day of January, complete from July first to December thirty-first of the preceding year” and inserting in place there of the following:--
On or before the fifteenth day of May, complete from January first through April thirtieth; on or before the fifteenth day of August, complete from May first through July thirtieth and the fifteenth day of January, complete from July first to December thirty-first of the preceding year.
SECTION 3: Section 43 of said chapter 3, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:--
Each report shall also contain an un-itemized statement of office overhead, such as rent, utilities, taxes and similar expenses. For executive and legislative agents who engage in lobbying as their principle business all such expenses incurred shall be reported. Executive and legislative agents who engage in lobbying as only part of their business shall report all such expenses incurred on a pro-rata basis in one of the following percentages, 75%, 50%, 25% or 10%. For executive and legislative agents employed by lobbying organizations, said organization shall report office overhead as required by section 44.
SECTION 5: Section 43 of said chapter 3, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second sentence of the third paragraph and inserting in place there of the following:-
The disclosure shall be required regardless of whether the executive or legislative agent specifically referenced the bill number while acting to promote, oppose or influence legislation,and shall be as complete as practicable.
SECTION 6: Section 44 of said chapter 3, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended, by striking, in lines 1 to 3, the following:- “On or before the fifteenth day of July, complete from January first through June thirtieth; and the fifteenth day of January, complete from July first to December thirty-first of the preceding year” and inserting in place thereof the following:--
On or before the fifteenth day of May, complete from January first through April thirtieth; on or before the fifteenth day of August, complete from May first through July thirtieth; and the fifteenth day of January, complete from July first to December thirty-first of the preceding year.
SECTION 7: Section 44 of said chapter 3, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 28, after the word “payee.” the following:--
Each report shall also contain an un-itemized statement of office overhead, such as rent, utilities, taxes and similar expenses. For organizations who engage in lobbying as their principle business all such expenses incurred shall be reported. Organizations that engage in lobbying as only part of their business shall report all such expenses incurred on a pro-rata basis in one of the following percentages, 75%, 50%, 25% or 10%.