Q&A
Enforcement mechanisms for lobbying laws
0:19:21
·
78 sec
Michael McSweeney explains the enforcement mechanisms used to ensure compliance with lobbying laws, particularly focusing on the system of late fees. He discusses how these fees serve as a deterrent and encourage timely reporting.
- Late fees are $25 per day per client for established lobbyists, and $10 per day per client for first-time filers
- Significant increase in late fees observed in the last 12 months
- Late fees serve as a tool to keep the lobbying community focused on timely compliance
- Balance between enforcing rules and not wanting to impose unnecessary financial burdens on lobbyists
Michael McSweeney
0:19:21
The teeth that the lobbying law has that we use to to make sure that the lobbying laws enforce are the late the late fees.
0:19:30
So the late fee for each lobbyist is $25 per day per client.
0:19:36
And for new first time lobbyists filers, it's $10 per day per client.
0:19:42
So if you do not if you do not file or if you do not report one of your clients or, you know, like, we don't like, you forget to report or or you're not reporting.
0:19:55
The late fees can be substantial.
0:19:58
In the last 12 months, we had a very you know, we we had a seemingly large increase in the number of late fees.
0:20:04
And, you know, we know that it's not for lack of effort, you know, even lobbyists that attend training and know what their responsibilities are are still compiling pretty substantial late fees.
0:20:19
So, you you know, that's something that we're always looking to do.
0:20:22
We we don't want to unnecessary to necessarily have people paying substantial late fees, but you know, that's that's the way we kind of keep the community focused on doing their compliance and doing so in a timely fashion.