How To Register As A Lobbyist In Georgia

How to become a Lobbyist in Georgia (without even knowing)

1 of the things that many people in the construction industry that practise business in Georgia may be unaware of, is the fact that it's fairly easy to become tripped up by a Georgia elections and ethics la passed in 2010 for failure to register as a lobbyist. Violations of this police and its disclosure requirements about expenditures could potentially wind upward very substantial monetary penalties.

At the very last infinitesimal in thestate legislative session in 2010, a nib was passed that fabricated virtually anybody who had a business and had any contact with any state official, a local or canton official or even those working for agencies a "lobbyist." the event acquired quite a stir in the local structure industry and lots of concern that many business organization people, even including regular salespeople, were running afoul of the new police and exposing themselves to significant civil liabilities as well as creating a huge trouble in terms of adding a public job.

Fortunately, in the 2011 legislative session, the Legislature modified the lobbyist rules somewhat and so that the internet could not be so widely every bit was feared in the construction industry and I'm certain in other industries as well. Near businesses would come under the heading of "vendor lobbyist" which in 2011 was narrowed a fleck to exempt bona fide salespeople as long as they spent less than ten% of their overall time with a particular employer in lobbying activities. Staff that works on solicitations and bids are also exempted.

Last week, I made a presentation to the Georgia Chapter of the Associated General Contractors issues raised past the lobbying police and the withal very murky grey areas around it that surround information technology. More clarity on the problems is needed and hopefully future sessions of the Georgia land legislature volition help the problem.

In time to come posts I'll address more aspects of this new police and the pitifalls out at that place for the unaware.

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This is the construction law web log of Atlanta law business firm Taylor English Duma LLP. Read more than about our comprehensive, solutions-oriented construction police team at www.taylorenglish.com.

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