§97-2 Registration of lobbyists, requirements. (a) Every lobbyist shall file a registration form with the state ethics commission within five days of becoming a lobbyist.
(b) Each lobbyist shall provide and certify the following information:
(1) The name, mailing address, and business telephone number of the lobbyist.
(2) The name and principal place of business of each person by whom the lobbyist is retained or employed or on whose behalf the lobbyist appears or works and a written authorization to act as a lobbyist from each person by whom the lobbyist is employed or with whom the lobbyist contracts.
(3) The subject areas on which the lobbyist expects to lobby.
(c) A lobbyist shall report any change in any of the information contained in the registration statement within ten days after the change has occurred.
(d) A lobbyist shall file a notice of termination within ten days after the lobbyist ceases the activity that required the lobbyist's registration. If the lobbyist fails to file a notice of termination, the person who employed or contracted for the services of the lobbyist may file the notice. The lobbyist and the person who employed or contracted for the services of the lobbyist shall remain subject, however, to the requirements of this chapter for the period during which the registration was effective.
(e) This chapter shall not apply to:
(1) Any individual who represents oneself and not any other person before the legislature or administrative agency; provided that the individual shall file a statement of expenditures if the individual meets any of the provisions of section 97-3(a);
(2) Any federal, state, or county official or employee acting in the official's or employee's official capacity, unless the federal, state or county official, or employee contracts for the services of a lobbyist;
(3) Any elected public official acting in the public official's official capacity, unless the public official contracts for the services of a lobbyist;
(4) Any newspaper or other regularly published periodical or radio or television station, including any individual who owns, publishes, or is employed by a newspaper or periodical or radio or television station, while publishing in the regular course of business news items, editorials, or other comments, or paid advertisements, which directly or indirectly urge the passage or defeat of legislative or administrative action;
(5) Any attorney who advises the attorney's clients on the construction or effect of proposed legislative or administrative action; provided that such attorney shall register if the attorney meets the definition of "lobbyist" as defined in section 97-1; and
(6) Any person who possesses special skills and knowledge relevant to certain areas of legislation, whose skills and knowledge may be helpful to the legislative and executive branches of state government, and who makes an occasional appearance at the request of the legislature or an administrative agency, or the lobbyist even though receiving reimbursement or other payment from the legislature or administrative agency or the lobbyist for the appearance. [L 1975, c 160, pt of §1; am L 1980, c 129, §1(b); am L 1982, c 105, §2; gen ch 1985; am L 1992, c 53, §1; am L 2017, c 51, §3]