H. B. 2235

                        (By Delegates Fluharty, Ferro, Byrd, Hornbuckle, Trecost, H. White,

                                    Storch, Miley, Hamilton, Lynch and Pushkin)

                        [Introduced January 22, 2015; referred to the

                        Committee on the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §6B-3-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to prohibiting chairmen of state political parties during or up to one year after the termination of their employment as chairmen of those political parties from registering as lobbyists; and providing an effective date.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That §6B-3-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 3. LOBBYISTS.

§6B-3-2. Registration of lobbyists.

            (a) Before engaging in any lobbying activity, or within thirty days after being employed as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first, a lobbyist shall register with the Ethics Commission by filing a lobbyist registration statement. The registration statement shall contain information and be in a form prescribed by the Ethics Commission by legislative rule, including, but not limited to, the following information:

            (1) The registrant’s name, business address, telephone numbers and any temporary residential and business addresses and telephone numbers used or to be used by the registrant while lobbying during a legislative session;

            (2) The name, address and occupation or business of the registrant’s employer;

            (3) A statement as to whether the registrant is employed or retained by his or her employer solely as a lobbyist or is a regular employee performing services for the employer which include, but are not limited to, lobbying;

            (4) A statement as to whether the registrant is employed or retained by his or her employer under any agreement, arrangement or understanding according to which the registrant’s compensation, or any portion of the registrant’s compensation, is or will be contingent upon the success of his or her lobbying activity;

            (5) The general subject or subjects, if known, on which the registrant will lobby or employ some other person to lobby in a manner which requires registration under this article; and

            (6) An appended written authorization from each of the lobbyist’s employers confirming the lobbyist’s employment and the subjects on which the employer is to be represented.

            (b) Any lobbyist who receives or is to receive compensation from more than one person for services as a lobbyist shall file a separate notice of representation with respect to each person compensating him or her for services performed as a lobbyist. When a lobbyist whose fee for lobbying with respect to the same subject is to be paid or contributed by more than one person, then the lobbyist may file a single statement, in which he or she shall detail the name, business address and occupation of each person paying or contributing to the fee.

            (c) Whenever a change, modification or termination of the lobbyist’s employment occurs, the lobbyist shall, within one week of the change, modification or termination, furnish full information regarding the change, modification or termination by filing with the commission an amended registration statement.

            (d) Each lobbyist who has registered shall file a new registration statement, revised as appropriate, on the Monday preceding the second Wednesday in January of each odd-numbered year and failure to do so terminates his or her authorization to lobby. Until the registration is renewed, the person may not engage in lobbying activities unless he or she is otherwise exempt under paragraph (B), subdivision (7), section one of this article.

            (e) The following public officers or employees may not, during or up to one year after the termination of their public employment or service, be allowed to register as lobbyists:

            (1) Members of the Legislature;

            (2) Members of the Executive Department as referenced in article VII, section one of the Constitution of West Virginia;

            (3) Will and pleasure professional employees of the Legislature under the direct supervision of a member of the Legislature;

            (4) Will and pleasure professional employees of members of the Executive Department under the direct supervision of the Executive Department officer and who regularly, personally and substantially participates in a decision-making or advisory capacity regarding agency or department policy;

            (5) Members of the Supreme Court of Appeals;

            (6) Any department secretary of an executive branch department created by the provisions of section two, article one, chapter five-f of this code; and

            (7) Heads of any state departments or agencies.

            (f) Effective March 15, 2015 chairmen of state political parties, as defined by section eight, article one, chapter three of this code, may not, during or up to one year after the termination of their employment as chairmen of those political parties may be allowed to register as lobbyists.

            NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit chairmen of state political parties during or up to one year after the termination of their employment as chairmen of those political parties from registering as lobbyists . The bill provides an effective date.

            Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.