PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 533

(4)     SPENDS AT LEAST $2,000, INCLUDING POSTAGE, FOR THE EXPRESS
PURPOSE OF SOLICITING OTHERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN OFFICIAL TO
INFLUENCE LEGISLATIVE ACTION OR EXECUTIVE ACTION; OR

(5)     SPENDS AT LEAST $500 TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO ONE OR
MORE ENTITIES REQUIRED TO REGISTER UNDER THIS SUBSECTION.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This subsection is new language derived without substantive
change from former Art. 40A, §§ 1-201(t)(1) and 5-103.

In the lead-in to this subsection, an employer of a regulated lobbyist remains
within the definition of "regulated lobbyist" even if exempt from registration
and reporting under subsection (c) of this section. This clarifies an ambiguity
in former Art. 40A as to whether an exempted employer remained a
"registrant" for purposes of conflict of interest and financial disclosure
provisions.

Also in the lead-in, the word "entity" is substituted for the former word
"person" to clarify the inclusion of governmental units as "regulated lobbyists"
under certain circumstances.

In paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, the word "earns" is substituted for the
former word "receives" to clarify that the threshold dollar amount need not
literally be paid by the employer in order to require registration, so long as the
compensation is owed by the employer.

Defined terms: "Compensation" § 15-102
"Employee" § 15-102
"Entity" § 15-102
"Ethics Commission" § 15-102
"Executive action" § 15-102
"Legislative action" § 15-102
"Official" § 15-102
"Procurement contract" § 15-102
"Regulated lobbyist" § 15-102

(B) EXEMPTED ACTIVITIES.

(1) THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ARE EXEMPT FROM REGULATION
UNDER THIS SUBTITLE:

(I)      APPEARANCES AS PART OF THE OFFICIAL DUTIES OF AN
ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE, A POLITICAL
SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, OR THE UNITED STATES, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE
APPEARANCE IS NOT ON BEHALF OF ANY OTHER ENTITY;

(II)    ACTIONS OF A MEMBER OF THE NEWS MEDIA, TO THE EXTENT
THE ACTIONS ARE IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING
NEWS OR MAKING EDITORIAL COMMENT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC;

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