PROVIDENCE, RI –Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding everyone who lobbies the General Assembly about a new state law that will change the way they do business in 2012.
Passed during this year’s legislative session at Mollis’ request, the bill bars paid lobbyists and their firms and clients from registering for the upcoming legislative session until they have filed all their required 2011 lobbying reports.
“The new law merely gives them another incentive to align their reporting practices with the spirit and the letter of the law,” said Mollis.
State law requires everyone who is paid to lobby the General Assembly to register with the Secretary of State’s office and to file monthly and annual reports that disclose their expenses and campaign contributions as well as the issues they are following. Mollis posts the reports on his website.
The previous law allowed lobbyists, firms and clients to register even if they had not yet filed all their legally required reports from the previous year.
In 2010, 377 lobbyists registered with the Secretary of State’s office to lobby the General Assembly. Two weeks into the 2011 legislative session, more than 160 had failed to file at least one 2010 report. The final delinquent 2010 report was filed May 23.
“This bill is win-win. We no longer will have to invest resources in a months-long process to ensure compliance and the public will have access to the information quicker,” said Mollis.
Mollis contends the new law will pose no hardship for lobbyists or their firms and clients. They can use his website to file reports on-line 24/7. In addition, the Secretary of State’s office will help them file delinquent reports in person when they register for the 2012 legislative session, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 3.
The House bill was introduced by state Rep. Deborah Ruggiero and co-sponsored by state Representatives Joseph McNamara, Ray Gallison, John Savage and Daniel Reilly. The Senate version was sponsored by state Sen. Juan Pichardo and co-sponsored by state Sen. Maryellen Goodwin.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier to vote, making it easier to do business in Rhode Island and making government more open and accessible. For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit www.sos.ri.gov.
#####
