3. A lobbyist is not eligible for executive appointment to any state board, authority, commission, or bureau which regulates the activities of a business, firm, corporation, or agency that the lobbyist represented until one year after the expiration of the lobbyist's registration for that business, firm, corporation, or agency.
4. Taking a friend who is public officer, public employee or family member of the public officer or employee to lunch/dinner is a kind gesture, and is a reportable expense by a registered lobbyist.
8. State Level An individual who engages in any activity to promote or oppose the passage of any legislation by the General Assembly, or any committee thereof, or the approval or veto of legislation by the Governor Remember: the individual must spend more than 10% of his time engaged in lobbying or make expenditures greater than $1,000. 5
9. Local Level An individual who engages in any activity to promote or oppose the passage of any ordinance or resolution at the city/county level Remember: the individual must spend more than 10% of his time engaged in lobbying or make expenditures greater than $1,000. 6
10.
11. A vendor lobbyist is not a bona fide salesperson who sells to or contracts with a state agency for goods and services and who is not also a state, agency, local level or State Transportation Board lobbyist
12. Vendor lobbyist does not include an employee of a vendor who performs administrative duties in preparing a bid or proposal7
13. State Agency An individual hired specifically to promote or oppose the passage of any rule or regulation of any state agency The individual must spend more than 10% of his time engaged in lobbying State Agency means any branch of state government or any agency, authority, department, board, bureau, commission, council, corporation, entity, or instrumentality of this state or local political subdivision of this state. 8
14. State Transportation Board An individual hired specifically to promote or oppose any matter before the State Transportation Board The individual must spend more than 10% of his time engaged in lobbying
15. Who Cannot Register: Any person who has been convicted in Georgia of a felony involving moral turpitude or an offense that, had it occurred in this state, would constitute a felony involving moral turpitude under Georgia law - unless ten years or more have elapsed since the completion of the person's sentence. OCGA 21-5-71 10
16. HOW TO REGISTER AS A LOBBYIST All Lobbyists must complete A registration form or renew online during the renewal period A Personal Identification Number (PIN) Application to receive a PIN and Password. Pay lobbyist registration fees and badge fee Annual Lobbyist Registration $300 Lobbyist Supplemental registration $10 (a person who represents any state, county, municipal, or public agency, department, commission, or authority shall be exempted from payment of such registration fees.) Lobbyist identification card $20 All lobbyists are required to appear at the office of the State Ethics Commission (200 Piedmont Ave, Suite 1402 – West Tower, Atlanta, Georgia) to complete the registration process, which includes having a color photograph taken for incorporation into the lobbyist identification badge. These forms are available on our website www.ethics.ga.gov Replacement Badges and New Pictures are available for a charge of $20.00 11
20. Any form of payment or anything of value designed to encourage or influence a public officer (includes any transfer, payment, subscription, advance, deposit of money or services) and specifically includes any such transaction made for the benefit of a public employee;
21. Food or beverage consumed at a single meal or event by a public officer or public employee or a member of the family of such public officer or public employee;
22. Reimbursement or payment of actual and reasonable expenses provided to a public officer for transportation, travel, lodging, registration, food, beverages, and other activities related to attending a meeting or conference so as to permit such public officer's participation in such meeting or conference. 13
44. An award, plaque, certificate, memento or similar item of recognition
45. Legitimate salary, benefits, fees, commissions, or expenses associated with nonpublic business, employment, trade, or profession
46.
47. All original lobbyist reports are filed electronically with the Campaign Finance Commission. If the report contains any expenditures relating to county or county school districts, file a copy of the report with the election superintendent of each county involved.If the report contains any expenditures relating to municipal affairs or independent school districts, file a copy of the report with the municipal clerk or chief executive officer of each municipality involved. 16
48. The registration provisions of this Code section shall not apply to: (1) Any individual who expresses personal views, on that individual's own behalf, to any public officer; (2) Any person who appears before a public agency or governmental entity committee or hearing for the purpose of giving testimony when such person is not otherwise required to comply with the registration provisions of this Code section; (3) Any public employee of an agency appearing before a governmental entity committee or hearing at the request of the governmental entity or any person who furnishes information upon the specific request of a governmental entity; (4) Any licensed attorney appearing on behalf of a client in any adversarial proceeding before an agency of this state; (5) Any person employed or appointed by a lobbyist registered pursuant to this Code section whose duties and activities do not include lobbying; (6) Elected public officers performing the official duties of their public office; and (7) Any public employee who performs services at the direction of a member of the General Assembly including, but not limited to, drafting petitions, bills, or resolutions; attending the taking of testimony; collating facts; preparing arguments and memorials and submitting them orally or in writing to a committee or member of the General Assembly; and other services of like character intended to reach the reason of the legislators.
55. PENALTIES Any person failing to comply with or violating any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,000.00 per violation. 24
56.
57. Has filed an application for registration with the commission that is incomplete in a material respect or contained a statement that was, in light of the circumstances under which it was made, false or misleading with respect to a material fact.
58. Has willfully violated or willfully failed to comply with the Act or a Campaign Finance Commission Rule.
59. Has failed to comply with the reporting requirements.
60. Has engaged in lobbying practices in violation of the Act.25
62. Contingent Fees for Lobbying Contingent fees for lobbying are prohibited! No lobbyist shall be employed to aid or oppose legislation for compensation contingent, in whole or part, upon the passage or defeat of any legislation or state agency regulation or upon the awarding of any state contract. 27
63. Terminating a Lobbyist There are two ways to terminate a lobbyist: by selecting the group information link on the user main menu or when filing a report under termination of groups section. Remember a lobbyist is responsible for completing all reports due. Once you terminate you must start the process anew to register for a different group or year.
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