Michael
Beckett, Esq.,
Associate Director,
Research Services
IDAHO:
Due to the special legislative session beginning August 24,
registered lobbyists will be required to file a monthly report.
Monthly reports must be filed on or before September 15,
covering the month of August.
ILLINOIS:
In a virtual news conference on August 13, a group of Democratic
lawmakers proposed a package of ethics reform bills they want
the General Assembly to take up during the veto session
scheduled to begin on November 17. Proposals include banning
current state legislators from also serving as lobbyists;
banning former lawmakers from immediately becoming lobbyists
after they leave office; amending the list of activities
considered to be lobbying; and creating official procedures for
investigation, censure, and temporary removal of leadership
positions for members facing criminal charges.
MISSISSIPPI: The Legislature
passed a resolution extending the legislative session to adjourn
sine die on October 10 to consider matters concerning the
COVID-19 pandemic. This extension pushes back the due date for
the Lobbyist End-of-Session Report due 10 days after adjournment
sine die to October 20, unless the Legislature votes to adjourn
earlier.
NEBRASKA:
The second session of the 106th Nebraska Legislature adjourned
sine die on August 13 after 60 legislative days of a session
interrupted by COVID-19. Speaker Jim Scheer suspended the
session in mid-March in response to growing safety concerns
regarding the global pandemic. The delaying of the session
affected lobbyist reporting due dates. Any lobbyists or
principals who received or expended more than $5,000 for
lobbying purposes during the session must file special reports
on September 15. Additionally, the lobbyist statement of
activity is due on September 27, which marks 45 days after
adjournment sine die of the session.
NORTH CAROLINA: The General
Assembly has extended the legislative session to adjourn sine
die on September 3, to allow for consideration of matters
related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Registered lobbyists who make
an expenditure on legislators and legislative employees will be
required to file monthly reports as the General Assembly is
still in session due to the extension. Monthly reports are due
10 business days after the end of the month. So, the August
report will be due on September 14. A monthly report for
September will not be required as that activity may be
incorporated in the Quarterly report due on October 21.
Marilyn Wesel, Esq.
Manager,
Research Services
North Dakota Ethics Commission Proposes Rules for Lobbyist Gift
Prohibition
 The
North Dakota Ethics Commission announced it will hold a public
hearing on September 15 to address proposed rules to clarify the
constitutional gift ban passed by voters in 2018. Article XIV of
the North Dakota Constitution established the state’s first
ethics commission and prohibits a lobbyist from giving a gift to
a public official. House Bill 1521, effective January 5, 2021,
codified the gift ban, but allowed for items from family
members, items exchanged for fair market payment, items of
informational value, campaign contributions, and for items in
educational or social settings if the ethics commission approved
by rule.
The proposed rules would also allow:
-
Reimbursement or payment for transportation, lodging costs,
and meal costs to facilitate attendance to a public or
private educational and social event within the state, if
the public official meaningfully participates in the event;
-
Gifts or other things of value shared as a cultural or
social norm as part of a public or private social and
educational event; and
-
Food and beverage served for immediate consumption at any
private or public social and educational event.
Prior to a public or private social and educational event, the
sponsor must file notice with the Ethics Commission providing
details regarding the planned event. Notice does not constitute
approval, but the sponsor may request an advisory opinion to
determine permissibility.
The penalty imposed for a violation is up to $1,000 for any
prohibited gift valued under $500 or two times the amount of any
gift valued at $500 or more.
If a prohibited gift is received by a public
official, the gift will not be considered a violation if the
gift is not used and is returned or the public official pays
market value within 10 days after receipt, or 10 days after
learning the gift is prohibited.
Written or oral comments regarding the proposed rules may be
submitted by email to
ethicscommmission@nd.gov.
All comments received by September 29 will be considered.
[The details for this
article will be updated on our website in the Gift section of
the U.S. Lobbying Compliance Laws and the U.S. Procurement
Lobbying Compliance Laws for North Dakota.] |
