§ 7-1-506. ANNUAL REPORT.

(a)

In general.

(1)

A lobbyist shall file an annual report with the Commission on or before January 31 covering the preceding year in which the lobbyist engaged in lobbying.

(2)

If the lobbyist is not an individual, an authorized officer or agent of the entity shall sign the annual report.

(3)

The lobbyist shall file a separate annual report for each person the lobbyist represented.

(b)

Contents of annual report.

(1)

The report shall include a complete and current statement of the information required under § 7-1-503 of this subtitle.

(2)

The report shall include the total expenditure on lobbying activities in each of the following categories:

(i)

Office expenses of the lobbyist;

(ii)

Professional and technical research and assistance, not reported in paragraph (4) of this subsection;

(iii)

Publications that expressly encourage persons to communicate with public officials;

(iv)

Names of witnesses and the fees and expenses paid to each;

(v)

Meals and beverages for public officials or their spouses or dependent children;

(vi)

Special events, including parties, dinners, athletic events, entertainment, and other functions to which all members of the County Council or a standing committee of the County Council are invited;

(vii)

Reasonable expenses for food, lodging, and scheduled entertainment of public officials for a meeting which is given in return for participation in a panel or speaking engagement at the meeting;

(viii)

Other gifts to or for public officials or their spouses or dependent children; and

(ix)

Other expenses.

(3)

(i)

Except for gifts reported in items (2)(vi) and (vii) of this subsection, the report shall include the name of each public official or the public official's spouse or dependent child who has benefited from gifts from the lobbyist that have a cumulative value of $100 or more during the period covered by the report, whether or not given in connection with lobbying activities.

(ii)

When the $100 cumulative value is met or exceeded, all succeeding gifts also shall be included in the report itemized by date, beneficiary, amount or value, and nature of the gift.

(4)

Expenses reported in items (2)(vi) and (vii) of this subsection shall be itemized as to date, location, and expense of the event, but the name of the public official does not need to be included.

(5)

(i)

The report shall include the total compensation paid to the lobbyist not including salaries, compensation, or reimbursed expenses for the staff of the lobbyist.

(ii)

If lobbying is only a portion of a lobbyist's employment, the lobbyist shall:

1.

Prorate the amount of compensation based on the time devoted to other employment duties; and

2.

For reporting purposes, identify the prorated amounts.

(c)

Duty of Commission to report lobbying activities. The Commission shall make available a report that computes:

(1)

A separate subtotal of the amount of expenditures reported for each category required to be reported under subsection (b)(2) of this section;

(2)

A subtotal of the combined amount of expenditures required to be reported under subsection (b)(2)(vi), (vii), and (viii) of this section;

(3)

The total amount of compensation paid to lobbyists required to be reported under subsection (b)(4) of this section; and

(4)

The total amount reported by all lobbyists for their lobbying activities during the reporting period.

(1988 Code, §§ 28-2, 28-156, 28-163) (Bill No. 91-99, § 2, 7-1-2004; Bill No. 44-12, § 2, 7-15-2012)