State and Federal Communications, the industry expert in providing government compliance information and consulting to many Fortune 500 companies, has developed a new ‘User’s Guide to National Party Conventions’ to provide organizations and convention participants with comprehensive compliance advice and guidelines to navigate the national party conventions. The publication is being offered free to any interested person after registering their inquiry on the company’s website at http://www.stateandfed.com/conventions/

The firm’s staff of attorneys and researchers has expertise in state, federal, and municipal laws regarding lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying. They have teamed together to prepare the new User’s Guide in advance of this year’s Republican National Convention being held in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena from July 18-21, 2016, and also the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center and Pennsylvania Convention Center from July 25-July 28, 2016.

Each convention operates to nominate a Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate for that party. These conventions are a gathering place for delegates and party members from across the United States, providing an excellent opportunity for organizations and individuals to interface and network with a wide range of public officials. Therefore, knowledge of the applicable federal, state, and local rules governing interactions and gift giving with both convention delegates and other public officials in attendance is of vital importance. The User’s Guide explains and details state-by-state jurisdiction permissibility of gifts to delegates and attendees who are public officials. It also informs readers of the different political leaders and attendees that will be at the conventions, including their roles, and the contribution rules that apply.

According to Ms. Elizabeth Z. Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, based in Akron, Ohio, “Producing the 2016 User’s Guide to National Party Conventions, and offering this free of charge, is our way to give back to the many people involved in our country’s great political system. We want to provide lobbying and compliance information from our vast resources to help everyone stay compliant at these conventions.”

This is the third edition of the State and Federal Communications User’s Guide to National Party Conventions. Previous issues were produced in 2012 and 2008.

Ms. Bartz adds, “We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to know and act correctly about what gifts can be given, to avoid potential ethics problems and unexpected fines at the conventions.”

For more information and to receive the free ‘User’s Guide to National Party Conventions’ please visit: http://www.stateandfed.com/conventions/

Zack Koozer attends Kent State University part-time and has yet to declare a major. His hobbies include playing video games, sketching, and hanging out with friends. He also tends to talk with his hands.

Although he has not quite decided what he wants to do with his life, he wants to be the person that people look at and say, “I want to be like him.” He would describe himself as a balance between whimsical and serious; he is protective of those close to him. Moreover, he values tolerance and open-minded people.

This summer, he plans on taking part in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with a group of friends and visiting with a friend and his godparents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He prefers cold beverages to hot beverages, and his Hogwarts house is Hufflepuff.

“Every person you encounter, whether for a minute or an hour, for a day or a year never really leaves you. They leave an imprint on you and help build who you are.” -Some wise guy

For the second year in a row, the General Assembly adjourned on June 30, the final day of the regular session, and entered into a special session through the early hours of July 1, 2016.

Gov. Jack Markell signed the budget bill at 5:15 a.m. Friday, marking the end of the state’s legislative proceedings for the year.

Have a happy Fourth of July weekend from your team at State and Federal Communications.

Broward Health, the county’s hospital system, is currently creating an online lobbyist registration system to coincide with its recently discovered registration policy.

The policy, created 12 years ago, was never implemented and came to light only after months of discussions by the board of commissioners on how to create such a policy.

The policy requires lobbyists to identify their clients, disclose the nature of their business activities, and report any business or financial relationships with Broward Health board members. The online system will be modeled after those of Broward County and Broward Public Schools.

State and Federal Communications is marking 23 extraordinary years of serving our clients! We have so much to celebrate this year!

This week the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, who was convicted on ethics charges in 2014.

The Court unanimously ruled the interpretation of bribery law was overly broad and making phone calls and setting up meetings did not constitute official action. McDonnell was accused of accepting more than $175,000 in gifts from a Virginia businessman wanting to do business with the commonwealth.

Some legal experts think this ruling will make it more difficult to prosecute corruption cases in the future, while others believe it fits with past rulings where courts required more than just the appearance of impropriety.

Photo of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell by Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons.

Sophia Avouris is a sophomore at Kent State University majoring in political science with a minor in public relations. She expects to graduate in the spring of 2019.  She enjoys playing quidditch.

Sophia has always been interested in political campaigns. Her first serious campaign was for Lou Gentile in 2010; he was running for a seat in the Ohio state House of Representatives. When he won, her passion for campaigning grew. It inspired her to go into political science and work in Washington, D.C. towards a career that would allow her to expand her political horizons and travel.

Sophia considers herself a quick learner, intelligent, and a good listener, which are all good traits to have in the political world. She believes humor and trustworthiness are important in any relationship, professional or personal. Because her family moves a lot, she thinks it is important to find stability in other social structures.

This summer, Sophia and her family are going camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. She plans on visiting a friend in Minnesota, and also eagerly anticipates seeing another friend who makes the best pizza in the world.

Out of all the technology and appliances that she uses, Sophia believes her laptop is the most essential. Her personal motto is: don’t forget to take a little time to laugh a little.

Clémence Besnard is a French exchange student who has been attending the University of Akron since January 2015. She is working on her master of science in international marketing at the ESC Rennes School of Business. Some of her hobbies include painting, other artistic pursuits, and swimming.

When she arrived in the United States, it was a difficult adjustment because it was the first time she had left her family for a long period of time and gone somewhere unfamiliar. She had to adapt to the American culture and to balance work and school. This opportunity to study abroad has proven itself to be a positive experience and it has made her more independent and confident in her ability to adjust. In her opinion, positivity, motivation, determination, open-mindedness, and trustworthiness are paramount to having a beneficial professional experience abroad.

In addition to her education, she would like go on a humanitarian mission to raise funds and provide education for all people, particularly those who are discriminated against. After she receives her master’s degree, she wants to find a job that would allow her to travel abroad.

Before she leaves America, Clémence wants to travel to various cities such as Pittsburgh, Chicago, Washington, DC, and to explore the West Coast.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” -Mahatma Gandhi

California’s Senate Bill 254 became law without the governor’s signature on June 9, 2016.

The measure will place a ballot question on the November 8, 2016 ballot asking voters whether California’s elected officials should use all of their constitutional authority, including proposing and ratifying one or more amendments to the United States Constitution, to overturn the Citizens United decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

A previous version of this bill was approved by lawmakers in 2014, but was blocked by legal challenges until January 2016 when the Supreme Court of California upheld the Legislature’s power to use advisory ballot measures.

Brittany Anderson is a public relations major with a minor in marketing at Kent State University. She plans on graduating in December 2016.

Brittany has been through many obstacles that have defined her life and epitomize the person she is today. In 2011, when her mother passed away unexpectedly from surgery complications, finding motivation to finish high school was very difficult. She pushed through despite her lack of motivation and maintained the drive to continue and stay grounded for her family.

When she graduates, Brittany wants to work as an executive director of media relations who specializes in crisis communications. If she takes a different route in the public relations field, she would love to work as a commercialization manager in the food industry where she would develop project plans, design, and product performance. Brittany also wants to further her professional network and eventually move out of the state with her sister. She considers herself creative, driven, and motivated. She values positivity, loyalty, and patience. She strives to be fearless without being reckless.

This summer, she is taking classes at Kent State University and interning here at State and Federal Communications.

She enjoys a fast-paced environment that allows her to exhibit her skills under pressure and enjoys to blog about eyebrows in her spare time.

“Know your worth.” -Brittany Anderson

Wisconsin’s new Ethics Commission will begin its work on June 30. It is one of two commissions created to replace the Government Accountability Board (GAB).

Twenty-three people submitted applications to be the first commission administrator; the GAB released a list of their names and hometowns Thursday.

Applicants include Paul Dauphinais, head of the Alaska Public Offices Commission, and Bre Injeski, deputy director of New York City’s Conflict of Interest Board. The position is a four-year term subject to Senate confirmation.

A record five citizen’s initiatives are set to hit the November ballot.

If all five initiatives pass, ranked-choice voting would replace the current election system (IB 2), a tax surcharge would be imposed on certain households to increase funding for public schools (IB 3), minimum wage would be raised to $12 an hour by 2020, background checks would be required for private gun sales (IB 5), and marijuana use would be legal (IB 6).

Ranked-choice voting ensures the winning candidate, in a multi-candidate race, receives the majority vote because voters rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate does not receive 50 percent of first-choice votes, then the lowest scoring candidate is eliminated and votes are retabulated.

Despite the Legislature’s intention to kill the bill version of IB 2 in March, voters have the opportunity to pass the initiative this November, much like the passage of IB 1 in November 2015, which revamped campaign finance laws.

If successful, Maine would be the first state to institute ranked-choice voting.

Voters in six Ohio counties will decide today who will fill the congressional seat left vacant by former House Speaker John Boehner.

Republican Warren Davidson is facing off against Democrat Corey Foister and Green Party candidate Jim Condit Jr. The winner will complete Boehner’s term.

Low voter turnout is expected with no other races on the ballot.