HB 536 -- LOBBYISTS' REPORTS

SPONSOR:  Clayton

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elections
by a vote of 15 to 3.

This bill clarifies the reporting requirement for lobbyists when
public officials, their staffs, or their families ask them to
give money, services, or gifts to certain organizations or
persons.  With the bill, lobbyists will not report the names of
the public officials, staff members, or family members who
requested expenditures for not-for-profit, charitable,
fraternal, civic, or benevolent organizations.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that many lobbyists report charges
for sending flowers, giving plaques, or donating to charities as
contributions made to particular legislators in their ethics
reports.  These types of items are not direct contributions to
legislators or their campaigns.  However, the lobbyists' reports
make it appear as if they are.  The press and constituents see
these reports and then think their legislator is receiving large
sums of money from lobbyists.  This bill will keep certain
items, like $600,000 donations to charity, from showing up on a
lobbyist's report and in the press as a contribution made to a
legislator.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Clayton.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Marty Romitti, Legislative Analyst

HB 536 -- Lobbyists' Reports

Sponsor:  Clayton

This bill clarifies the reporting requirement for lobbyists when
public officials, their staffs, or their families ask them to
give money, services, or gifts to certain organizations or
persons.  With the bill, lobbyists will not report the names of
the public officials, staff members, or family members who
requested expenditures for not-for-profit, charitable,
fraternal, civic, or benevolent organizations.