LATE Program - Section 1
"Lobbying" or "Lobbying activities" now means and includes attempts to influence:
- The passage or defeat of any legislation by either house of the state legislature or approval or disapproval of any legislation by the governor;
- The adoption, issuance, recission, modification or terms of a gubernatorial executive order;
- The adoption or rejection of any rule or regulation having the force and effect of law by a state agency;
- The outcome of any rate making proceeding by a state agency;
- Any determination regarding procurement
- The approval, disapproval, implementation or administration of tribal-state compacts, memoranda of understanding, or any other tribal-state agreements and any other state actions related to Class III gaming.
- The passage or defeat of any local law, ordinance, resolution, or regulation by any municipality or subdivision thereof;
- The adoption, issuance, recission, modification or terms of an executive order issued by the chief executive officer of a municipality;
- The adoption or rejection of any rule, regulation, or resolution having the force and effect of a local law, ordinance, resolution, or regulation; or
- The outcome of any rate making proceeding by any municipality or subdivision thereof.
Local Lobbying
- As of April 1, 2002, registration and reporting are requirements for anyone engaged in lobbying before a municipality or subdivision thereof in New York State.
- Any municipality exceeding a population of over 50,000 is covered under the Lobby Act, and requires public disclosure of any activity intended to influence the passage or defeat of any local law, ordinance or regulation.
Terms
Lobbyist - any person or organization that engages in lobbying activities on behalf of another.
Client - the employer, person, or organization on whose behalf a lobbyist engages in lobbying activities.
Attempts to Influence - any activity, the object of which is to support, oppose, change, modify, persuade, prevent, coerce, or delay action by an official or agency of government.
Gift - anything of more than nominal value given to a public official.
Restricted period - starts with the earliest written attempt to solicit a response with regard to a procurement contract. This may include, but not limited to, written notices, advertisements, RFPs, invitations for bids, solicitations of proposals, or any other method for soliciting a response with regard to a procurement contract. Ends with the final contract award (all parties that must approve the contract have granted the approval.)
Reportable compensation - any salary, fee, gift, payment, benefit, loan, advance, or any other thing of value paid, owed, given, or promised to the lobbyist by the client or employer for lobbying.
Shall include any such compensation paid or owed to the lobbyist for the purpose of lobbying.
Reportable expenses - any expenditure incurred by or reimbursed to the lobbyist for the purpose of lobbying. Reportable expenses include, but are not limited to: advertising, telephone, electronic advocacy, food, beverages, tickets, entertainment, parties, receptions or similar events, advocacy rallies, consultant services, expenses for non-lobbying support staff and courier services when said expenses are part of a lobbying effort.
Note: Fines and fees imposed by the Commission on Public Integrity are NOT a reportable expense.
Payments or expenses incurred by the lobbyist for their own sustenance, lodging and travel are NOT reportable expenses.