2015 Arkansas Code
Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees
Chapter 8 - Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
Subchapter 6 - Disclosure by Lobbyists
§ 21-8-607 - Prohibited acts.

(a) No person shall purposely employ any lobbyist who is required to register as a registered lobbyist but is not registered pursuant to this chapter.

(b) No person engaging in lobbying shall:

(1) Influence or attempt to influence, by coercion, bribery, or threat of economic sanction, any public servant in the discharge of the duties of his or her office;

(2) Purposely provide false information to any public servant as to any material fact pertaining to any legislative or administrative action;

(3) Purposely omit, conceal, or falsify in any manner information required by the registration and lobbyist activity reports;

(4) Contract to receive or accept compensation that is dependent in any manner upon:

(A) The success or failure of a legislative or administrative action; or

(B) The outcome of any executive, legislative, or administrative action relating to the solicitation or securing of a procurement contract; or

(5) (A) Provide payment for food or beverages at any location or event at which the lobbyist is not present physically.

(B) Subdivision (b)(5)(A) of this section shall not apply to a special event under § 21-8-402(20).

(c) (1) A person convicted of violating subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section is:

(A) Prohibited from acting as a registered lobbyist for a period of three (3) years from the date of the conviction; and

(B) Subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(2) Any person violating the three-year ban shall be deemed guilty of an additional violation of this subchapter.

(d) Any person who acts as a lobbyist as defined by § 21-8-402(11) but purposely fails to register within five (5) days of beginning lobbying activities as required by § 21-8-601 is subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(e) (1) On a lobbyist registration form, a person acting as a lobbyist shall not:

(A) Purposely provide false information; or

(B) Purposely omit information.

(2) A person who violates subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall:

(A) Not be considered a registered lobbyist; and

(B) Be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(f) A person convicted of three (3) or more violations of a provision of this subchapter shall be permanently prohibited from acting as a registered lobbyist in this state.

(g) An expunged record shall not serve as the basis for disqualification under this section.