Executive Budget Proposal – Lobbying Reforms

As part of his proposed 2016-17 Executive Budget, Gov. Cuomo has proposed an accompanying Article VII bill (A.9011/S.6411) titled “Good Government and Ethics Reform.”

The Governor is proposing the following changes to the state’s lobbying laws.

Public Officers Law Reform (Part E) would:

• authorize JCOPE to seek documents in support of information on financial disclosure forms;
• authorize a penalty of up to $10,000 for lobbyists or clients who fail to fully cooperate during JCOPE audits;
• require electronic submission of lobbying reports and registrations by 2017; and
• expand JCOPE’s civil penalty jurisdiction to include individuals who aid in the violation of the State’s ethics laws.

Requiring Political Consultants to Register as Lobbyists (Part H) would:

• define political consultants as persons who are paid to provide advice, services, or assistance in securing future State or local public office for any elected State or local public official; and
• extend JCOPE registration and reporting requirements to political consultants.