HB129: relative to registration fees for lobbying and lobbyists and requiring registration of employers of lobbyists.

HB 129-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2003 SESSION

03-0135

10/09

HOUSE BILL 129-FN

AN ACT relative to registration fees for lobbying and lobbyists and requiring registration of employers of lobbyists.

SPONSORS: Rep. Weed, Ches 25

COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill changes the registration fee for lobbyists who register solely to represent a nonprofit entity. The bill also adds fees for employers of lobbyists.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0135

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT relative to registration fees for lobbying and lobbyists and requiring registration of employers of lobbyists.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Lobbyists; Employer Registration Required; Fees Changed. Amend RSA 15:1 and 15:2 to read as follows:

15:1 Registration. Any person who is employed for a consideration by any other person in a representative capacity to promote or oppose directly or indirectly any legislation pending or proposed before the general court shall first enter his or her appearance with the secretary of state in a book to be kept for that purpose, which book shall be open to public inspection. Such entry shall show the full names of employer and employed, their respective residences, the usual occupation of each, the date and character of the employment or agreement therefor, the duration of the employment if it can be determined, and the special subjects of legislation, if any, to which the employment relates. If the employment varies from time to time, such entries shall be varied accordingly. An employer of such person required to enter an appearance under this section shall also register with the secretary of state in a form determined by the secretary. All registrations required under this section shall expire on December 1.

15:2 Registration Fee.

I. The fee for registration as a lobbyist under RSA 15:1 for any one legislative session shall be $50 for each employer. A lobbyist registering solely as a lobbyist for a nonprofit entity shall pay a $25 fee for each such entity. Each individual who acts as a lobbyist shall pay the above registration fee regardless of his affiliation with any registered lobbyist.

II. The fee for registration as an employer of a lobbyist shall be $100, or if the employer has nonprofit status, $50.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

03-0135

12/23/02

HB 129-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to registration fees for lobbying and lobbyists and requiring registration of employers of lobbyists.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of State estimates this bill will increase state general fund revenue by $32,250 in FY 2004 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local expenditures or county and local revenue.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department states this bill requires the employer of lobbyists to register with the Department and pay a $100 fee, or $50 fee if the employer has nonprofit status. Registration fees for lobbyists registering solely as a lobbyist for a nonprofit entity would be reduced from $50 to $25. The Department assumes a FY 2004 implementation date and estimates the revenue impact as follows:

FY 2004

& Thereafter

258 Lobbyist (for profit) Employers @ $100 $25,800

258 Lobbyist (not for profit) Employers @ $50 12,900

258 Lobbyists (not for profit) @ $25 Reduction (6,450)

Revenue Impact on General Fund $32,250

The Department states expenditures can be absorbed without additional funding.