Introduced Version
House Bill 2796 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2796
(By Delegate Andes)
[Introduced March 1, 2013; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §6B-3-2 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to requiring lobbyists to disclose
compensation agreements for each registered employer.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §6B-3-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. LOBBYISTS.
§6B-3-2. Registration of lobbyists.
(a) Before engaging in any lobbying activity, or within thirty
days after being employed as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first, a
lobbyist shall register with the Ethics Commission by filing a
lobbyist registration statement. The registration statement shall
contain information and be in a form prescribed by the Ethics
Commission by legislative rule, including, but not limited to, the following information:
(1) The registrant's name, business address, telephone numbers
and any temporary residential and business addresses and telephone
numbers used or to be used by the registrant while lobbying during
a legislative session;
(2) The name, address and occupation or business of the
registrant's employer;
(3) A statement as to whether the registrant is employed or
retained by his or her employer solely as a lobbyist or is a
regular employee performing services for the employer which
include, but are not limited to, lobbying;
(4) A statement as to whether the registrant is employed or
retained by his or her employer under any agreement, arrangement or
understanding according to which the registrant's compensation, or
any portion of the registrant's compensation, is or will be
contingent upon the success of his or her lobbying activity;
(5) The general subject or subjects, if known, on which the
registrant will lobby or employ some other person to lobby in a
manner which requires registration under this article; and
(6) An appended written authorization from each of the
lobbyist's employers confirming the lobbyist's employment and the
subjects on which the employer is to be represented.
(7) An appended written disclosure of all compensation
agreements for each registered employer.
(b) Any lobbyist who receives or is to receive compensation
from more than one person for services as a lobbyist shall file a
separate notice of representation with respect to each person
compensating him or her for services performed as a lobbyist. When
a lobbyist whose fee for lobbying with respect to the same subject
is to be paid or contributed by more than one person, then the
lobbyist may file a single statement, in which he or she shall
detail the name, business address and occupation of each person
paying or contributing to the fee.
(c) Whenever a change, modification or termination of the
lobbyist's employment occurs, the lobbyist shall, within one week
of the change, modification or termination, furnish full
information regarding the change, modification or termination by
filing with the commission an amended registration statement.
(d) Each lobbyist who has registered shall file a new
registration statement, revised as appropriate, on the Monday
preceding the second Wednesday in January of each odd-numbered year
and failure to do so terminates his or her authorization to lobby.
Until the registration is renewed, the person may not engage in
lobbying activities unless he or she is otherwise exempt under
paragraph (B), subdivision (7), section one of this article.
(e) The following public officers or employees may not, during
or up to one year after the termination of their public employment
or service, be allowed to register as lobbyists:
(1) Members of the Legislature;
(2) Members of the Executive Department as referenced in
article VII, section one of the Constitution of West Virginia;
(3) Will and pleasure professional employees of the
Legislature under the direct supervision of a member of the
Legislature;
(4) Will and pleasure professional employees of members of the
Executive Department under the direct supervision of the Executive
Department officer and who regularly, personally and substantially
participates in a decision-making or advisory capacity regarding
agency or department policy;
(5) Members of the Supreme Court of Appeals;
(6) Any department secretary of an executive branch department
created by the provisions of section two, article one, chapter
five-f of this code; and
(7) Heads of any state departments or agencies.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require lobbyists to
disclose compensation agreements for each registered employer.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.