Tobacco Documents Online

t!IEWYORK Scope and Definitions New York law defines a lobbyist a~s any person retained for compensation to!promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the passage of any bill or resolution by either House or gubernatorial approval of any such bill or resolution. N.Y. Legis. Law, Art. 4,. S, 66. Activities regarding regulatory or executive agencies other than the governor do not appear to be included. Regiistration, Lobbyists must register every year, before service is en- tered into, by filing with the Secretary of State a signed statement containing the name or names of'persons on whose behalf he or shee is retained, together with a brief descripttion of the legislation regarding which such service is to be rendered. The Secretary of' State maintains a d'ocket containing the names of agents and their employers, together withia brief description of the legislation with regard to which the service is entered into. Terminations are noted on the docket at the request of either the agent or the W ~ employer. W U1 N Reports ~ Employers or agents must file in the office.of the S'ecre- tary of State!within two months of the adjournment of the legislal- ture an itemized~ verified statement showing in detail all expenses paid, incurred or promised in connection with pending legis7lation. The report must include the names of'payees, amounts paid or pro- mised!, the names of the agents and amounts paid to themythe na- ture of the legislation involved,, and' the interest of the employer.

r Conventional legal services, such as the drafting of bills or advice with regard to the construction of laws or pend- ing legislation, are excepted., Miscellaneous Provisions Contingent compensation of lobb.~ists is prohiibited.. Penalties Violation of any provision of the section is punishable. by imprisonment for up:to one year or by a fine of'up to $1,000 or both. Corporations or associations are punishable by fine. In addition, failure to file a statement of legislative expenses within the time limits of the section results in~an automatic penalty of $10&per day for each day after a two month grace period which follows the time limit for filing,.