LOBBYIST BULLETIN

Dear Lobbyist,

As you are well aware the Lobbying Bureau has been undertaking a greater scrutiny of all filings pursuant to the directions and spirit of the recent changes to the Lobbying Law. In reviewing recent lobbyist filings, it is apparent that many filers are unclear of the requirements to specifically identify the targets of their lobbying efforts.

To be in compliance with the Lobbying Law, you are required to list the name of the agency you have lobbied as well as the individual person(s) you have lobbied at such agency. The same procedure should be followed when the target is the Mayor’s Office or City Council.

The Lobbying Bureau is working with DOITT to improve the applicable field in the e-Lobbyist filing system to assure the filer is providing the required information. Until this change is effectuated, if your lobbying target is an agency you should follow this procedure when completing your filings:

• First, please check the “entity” field
  
  
  
• Second, type in both the name of agency and name of the individual person(s) you have lobbied at such agency in the “entity” field.

Any periodic reports filed for 2007 reporting periods should be reviewed and, if not in compliance with the requirements of Lobbying Law, revised accordingly, and re-filed. Any amended reports must be submitted by December 31, 2007.

For additional guidance regarding compliance with this aspect of the Lobbying Law we have attached a PDF file of the applicable advisory opinion 1987-17 from our website as well as a PDF file containing the relevant excerpt from the New York City Charter that defines “agency.”

If after reviewing this bulletin you have outstanding questions please call the Lobbying Bureau at 212-669-8171.