PROVIDENCE, RI (Feb. 19, 2009) – Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is asking State House lobbyists to attend a workshop next week designed to make it easier for them to comply with state reporting requirements and ethics regulations.

“I am committed to making government more open and accessible. One of my objectives is to provide lobbyists with all the tools necessary to become fully compliant with applicable state laws and regulations,” said Mollis.

The workshop is scheduled for Mon., Feb. 23, in the Senate Lounge on the second floor of the State House. To make it convenient for lobbyists to attend, the seminar will be offered from 9 to 10 a.m. and, again, from 1 to 2 p.m.

The workshops will review the Secretary of State’s online registration and reporting system as well as the information that lobbyists must file on a monthly and annual basis. Lobbyists will also get a presentation from the state Ethics Commission.

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“Helping lobbyists become more familiar with our website and their specific obligations under the law will make it easier for them to provide accurate information to the public,” said Mollis.

Lobbyists must file a variety of monthly and annual reports with Mollis detailing their issues, compensation and expenses. The information is posted on the Secretary of State’s website at www.sec.state.ri.us.

To RSVP for the lobbyist workshop, contact the Secretary of State’s Division of Public Information at (401) 222-3983 or publicinfo@sec.state.ri.us.

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