§ 21-5-73 - (For effective date, see note.) Disclosure reports - Georgia Statutes

O.C.G.A. 21-5-73 (2010)
21-5-73. (For effective date, see note.) Disclosure reports

(a) (For effective date, see note.) Each lobbyist registered under this article shall file disclosure reports as provided for in this Code section in the electronic format specified by the commission.

(b) (For effective date, see note.) A person who is a lobbyist pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (5) of Code Section 21-5-70 shall file a semimonthly disclosure report on the first and fifteenth day of each month, current through the end of the preceding report, beginning January 15 and continuing throughout the period that the General Assembly is in session.

(c) A person who is a lobbyist pursuant to subparagraph (D) or (E) of paragraph (5) of Code Section 21-5-70 shall:

(1) File a disclosure report, current through the end of the preceding month, on or before the fifth day of May, September, and January of each year instead of the reports required by subsections (b) and (d) of this Code section; and

(2) File such report with the commission, file a copy of such report with the election superintendent of each county involved if the report contains any expenditures relating to county or county school district affairs, and file a copy of such report with the municipal clerk (or if there is no municipal clerk, with the chief executive officer of the municipality) of each municipality involved if the report contains any expenditures relating to municipal affairs or independent school district affairs.

(d) (For effective date, see note.) A person who is a lobbyist pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (F), (G), (H), (I), or (J) of paragraph (5) of Code Section 21-5-70 shall file a monthly disclosure report, current through the end of the preceding period, on or before the fifth day of each month; provided, however, that such monthly reports shall not be filed during any period that the lobbyist files a semimonthly report pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section.

(e) Reports filed by lobbyists shall be verified and shall include:

(1) (For effective date, see note.) A description of all expenditures, as defined in Code Section 21-5-70, or the value thereof made on behalf or for the benefit of a public officer by the lobbyist or employees of the lobbyist or by any person on whose behalf the lobbyist is registered if the lobbyist has actual knowledge of such expenditure. The description of each reported expenditure shall include:

(A) The name and title of the public officer or, if the expenditure is simultaneously incurred for an identifiable group of public officers the individual identification of whom would be impractical, a general description of that identifiable group;

(B) The amount, date, and description of the expenditure and a summary of all spending classified by category. Such categories shall include gifts, meals, entertainment, lodging, equipment, advertising, travel, and postage;

(C) The provisions of Code Section 21-5-70 notwithstanding, aggregate expenditures described in divisions (1)(E)(vii) and (1)(E)(x) of Code Section 21-5-70 incurred during the reporting period; provided, however, expenses for travel and for food, beverage, and lodging in connection therewith afforded a public officer shall be reported in the same manner as under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) of this paragraph;

(D) If applicable, the number of the bill, resolution, ordinance, or regulation pending before the governmental entity in support of or opposition to which the expenditure was made; and

(E) If applicable, the rule or regulation number or description of the rule or regulation pending before the state agency in support of or opposition to which the expenditure was made;

(2) For those who are lobbyists within the meaning of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of Code Section 21-5-70, the name of any vendor or vendors for which the lobbyist undertook to influence the awarding of a contract or contracts by any state agency together with a description of the contract or contracts and the monetary amount of the contract or contracts; and

(3) For those who are lobbyists within the meaning of subparagraph (H) of paragraph (5) of Code Section 21-5-70, the name of the individual or entity for which the lobbyist undertook to influence the rule or regulation of a state agency.

(f) The reports required by this article shall be in addition to any reports required under Code Section 45-1-6, relating to required reports by state vendors of gifts to public employees. Compliance with this Code section shall not excuse noncompliance with that Code section, and compliance with that Code section shall not excuse noncompliance with this Code section, notwithstanding the fact that in some cases the same information may be required to be disclosed under both Code sections.

(g) (For effective date, see note.) The electronic filing of any disclosure report required by this article shall constitute an affirmation that such report is true, complete, and correct.

(h) (For effective date, see note.) The commission shall not require the reporting of any more information in a lobbyist disclosure report than is expressly required to be disclosed by this Code section.