2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 22 - General Assembly
CHAPTER 22-10 - Lobbying
§ 22-10-9 - Financial reports.

SECTION 22-10-9

   § 22-10-9  Financial reports. – (a) Every person that engages any person to act as a lobbyist concerning legislative matters, and the lobbyist, shall individually file with the secretary of state a complete and itemized report of all expenditures made for the purpose of lobbying, including, but not limited to, advertising expenses and all compensation paid to the lobbyists for lobbying, and all campaign contributions in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) to state and municipal elected officials and state political action committees. The report shall also include any expenditure, gift, or honorarium of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more for each occurrence concerning any legislative or executive official paid or incurred by the person who engages the lobbyist and the lobbyist. The report shall include the names of the individuals receiving or in whose behalf the expenditures have been made, and the reason, date, and place of the expenditures.

   (2) Any function to which the entire membership of the general assembly, or of either chamber or of any legally constituted legislative committee or commission within the general assembly, is invited, which is sponsored by any person, corporation, or association having engaged any person to act as a lobbyist, or by any lobbyist, shall be deemed a lobbying activity, and any funds expended or incurred for that function shall be set forth in the financial report.

   (3) The initial report shall be filed by the person, corporation, or association having engaged any person to act as a lobbyist and by the lobbyist at the time of their initial registration, and updated reports shall be filed with the secretary of state by the fifteenth (15th) day of each month thereafter, beginning in March until the earlier of the termination of the lobbyist's engagement or the final adjournment of the general assembly. A final report shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after the earlier of the termination of the lobbyist's engagement or the final adjournment of the general assembly.

   (4) All reports shall be on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, and the reports shall be open for public inspection.

   (5) In the event no compensation has been paid or received, and no expenses have been paid or incurred, an annual statement to that effect may be filed with the secretary of state in lieu of the report form.

   (b) During any special session of the general assembly, every person, corporation, or association that engages any person to act as a lobbyist, and every lobbyist so engaged, shall register within twenty-four (24) hours of the commencement of the session. The initial financial reports shall be filed within twenty-four (24) hours after the date of the employment for the special session, and updated reports shall be filed every fourteen (14) days thereafter. The final report shall be filed no later than seven (7) days after the date of adjournment.

   (c) Not later than January 15 of each year, every lobbyist and every individual, firm, business, corporation, association, partnership, or other group which employed a lobbyist or engaged any person to act as a lobbyist or who was required to register with the office of secretary of state during the preceding year pursuant to § 22-10-6 shall file with the secretary of state a complete and detailed report of all money or anything of value which in the aggregate exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250) provided or promised to any major state decision-maker within the preceding calendar year. "Money" and "anything of value" in this subsection and in subsection (d) of this section shall mean any fee, salary, commission, expense allowance, forbearance, forgiveness, royalty, rent, capital gain, gift, loan, reward, favors or services, gratuities or special discounts, or any other form of recompense that constitutes income under the Federal Internal Revenue Code.

   (d) Not later than January 15 of each year, every individual, firm, business, corporation, association, partnership or other group specified in subsection (c) of this section shall provide an exact copy of the report required in subsection (c) of this section to the Rhode Island ethics commission and to any major state decision-maker to whom it provided or promised money or anything of value which in the aggregate exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the preceding calendar year.