JCOPE E-Blast on Reportable Business Relationships

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) sent out an “e-blast” yesterday to inform the regulated lobbying community about its new reportable business relationship disclosure guidelines and forms.

The guidelines can be found here.  JCOPE has also made available as PDFs a client business relationship form and a lobbyist business relationship form. (Electronic forms are not yet available, but JCOPE is working on them.)

The e-blast appears to indicate that any reportable business relationships in existence since August 2011 must be reported:

The new RBR disclosure requirement was part of the Public Integrity Reform Act, which was signed into law in August 2011. The new forms enable lobbyists and clients to amend any filings since the law went into effect pursuant to the new guidelines. The forms should be filled in and filed with the Commission as soon as possible.

This new reportable business relationship reporting requirement is a complex one.  If you need assistance in ensuring that your organization is in compliance,  we can  help.