HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON ETHICS RESOLUTION BY CHAIRPERSON KOESTER)

A Resolution relating to the rules governing lobbyists in the House of Representatives.

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House Rules Governing Lobbyists shall be as follows:
HOUSE RULES GOVERNING LOBBYISTS
   1.  DEFINITIONS OF TERMS. As used in these rules, “client”, “gift”, “immediate family member”, “lobbyist”, and “person” have the meanings provided in section 68B.2 of the Code, except that the terms “lobbyist” and “client” shall only refer to persons who are lobbyists or clients of lobbyists of the house of representatives. Except as otherwise provided, “employee of the house” means a full-time permanent paid employee of the house of representatives.
   2.  REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
   a.  All lobbyists shall, on or before the day their lobbying activity begins, register in the manner provided under section 68B.36 of the Code. Lobbyist registration forms shall be available in the office of the chief clerk of the house.
   b.  In addition each registered lobbyist shall file with the chief clerk of the house a statement of the general subjects of legislation in which the lobbyist is or may be interested, the file number of the bills and resolutions and the bill number of study bills, if known, which will be lobbied, whether the lobbyist intends to lobby for or against each bill, resolution, or study bill, if known, and on whose behalf the lobbyist is lobbying the bill, resolution, or study bill.  A lobbyist filing a declaration for a bill, resolution, or study bill may also submit a position statement with the declaration explaining the position of the lobbyist’s client on the bill, resolution, or study bill. The chief clerk of the house shall include in the electronic bill declaration system a method for the submission of position statements by lobbyists.
   Any change in or addition to the information required by this rule shall be registered with the chief clerk of the house within ten days from the time the change or addition is known to the lobbyist.
   c.  Beginning with lobbyist registration for the 2012 session of the Eighty-fourth General Assembly, lobbyist registration shall include an affirmation by the lobbyist regarding compliance with rule 16.
   3.  CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION. If a lobbyist’s service on behalf of a particular employer, client, or cause is concluded after the lobbyist registers but before the first day of the next legislative session, the lobbyist shall cancel the registration in the manner required under section 68B.36 of the Code. Upon cancellation of registration, a person is prohibited from engaging in any lobbying activity on behalf of that particular employer, client, or cause until reregistering and complying with the requirements of section 68B.36 of the Code.
   4.  AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION. If a registered lobbyist represents more than one employer, client, or cause and the lobbyist’s services are concluded on behalf of a particular employer, client, or cause after the lobbyist registers but before the first day of the next legislative session, the lobbyist shall file an amendment to the lobbyist’s registration indicating which employer, client, or cause is no longer represented by the lobbyist and the date upon which the representation concluded.
   If a lobbyist is retained by one or more additional employers, clients, or causes after the lobbyist registers but before the first day of the next legislative session, the lobbyist shall file an amendment to the lobbyist’s registration indicating the employer, client, or cause to be added and the date upon which the representation begins.
   Amendments to a lobbyist’s registration regarding changes which occur during the time that the general assembly is in session shall be filed within one working day after the date upon which the change in the lobbyist’s representation becomes effective. Amendments regarding changes which occur when the general assembly is not in session shall be filed within ten days after the date upon which the change in the lobbyist’s representation becomes effective.
   5.  PUBLIC ACCESS. All information filed by a lobbyist or a client of a lobbyist under chapter 68B of the Code is a public record and open to public inspection at any reasonable time.
   6.  CHARGE ACCOUNTS. Lobbyists and the clients they represent shall not allow members of the house to charge any amounts or items to a charge account to be paid for by those lobbyists or by the clients they represent.
   7.  ACCESS TO HOUSE FLOOR. Lobbyists shall only be permitted on the floor of the house pursuant to rule 20 of the rules of the house rules.
   8.  FEE OR BONUS PROHIBITED. A fee or bonus shall not be paid to any lobbyist with reference to any legislative action that is conditioned wholly or in part upon the results attained by the lobbyist.
   9.  OFFERS OF ECONOMIC OR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY. A lobbyist, employer, or client of a lobbyist shall not offer economic or investment opportunity or promise of employment to any member of the house with intent to influence conduct in the performance of official duties.
   10.  PERSONAL OR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION. A lobbyist shall not do anything with the purpose of placing a member of the house under personal or financial obligation to a lobbyist or a lobbyist’s principal or agent.
   11.  ATTEMPTS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT. A lobbyist shall not cause or influence the introduction of any bill or amendment for the purpose of being employed to secure its passage or defeat.
   12.  CAMPAIGN SUPPORT. A lobbyist shall not influence or attempt to influence a member’s actions by the promise of financial support for the member’s candidacy or threat of financial support for an opposition candidate. A lobbyist shall not make a campaign contribution to a member or to a member’s candidate’s committee during the time that the general assembly is in session.
   13.  COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBER’S EMPLOYER PROHIBITED. A lobbyist shall not communicate with a member’s employer for the purpose of influencing a vote of the member.
   14.  EXCESS PAYMENTS. A lobbyist shall not pay or agree to pay to a member a price, fee, compensation, or other consideration for the sale or lease of any property or the furnishing of services which is substantially in excess of that which other persons in the same business or profession would charge in the ordinary course of business.
   15.  PROHIBITION AGAINST GIFTS. A lobbyist or client of a lobbyist shall not, directly or indirectly, offer or make a gift or series of gifts to any member or full-time permanent employee of the house or the immediate family members of a member or full-time permanent employee of the house except as otherwise provided in section 68B.22 of the Code. A lobbyist or client of a lobbyist who intends or plans to give a nonmonetary item, other than food or drink consumed in the presence of the donor, which does not have a readily ascertainable value, to a member or full-time permanent employee of the house, prior to giving or sending the item to the member or employee, shall seek approval of the item from the chief clerk of the house. A lobbyist or client of a lobbyist who seeks approval of an item from the chief clerk shall submit the item and evidence of the value of the item at the time that approval is requested.
   16.  GIFT LAW REQUIREMENTS.  A lobbyist shall inform each of the lobbyist’s clients of the requirements of section 68B.22 of the Code and of the responsibility to seek approval prior to giving or sending a nonmonetary item which does not have a readily ascertainable value to a member or a full-time permanent employee of the house.
   16.  17.  FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. A lobbyist shall not, directly or indirectly, make a loan to a member of the house or to an employee of the house.
   A loan prohibited under this section does not include a loan made in the ordinary course of business of a lobbyist if the primary business of the lobbyist is something other than lobbying, if consideration of equal or greater value is received by the lobbyist, and if fair market value is given or received for the benefit conferred.
   17.  18.  HONORARIA —— RESTRICTIONS. A lobbyist or client of a lobbyist shall not pay an honorarium to a member or employee of the house for a speaking engagement or other formal public appearance in the official capacity of the member or employee except as otherwise provided in section 68B.23 of the Code.
   18.  19.  COMPLAINTS. The procedures for complaints and enforcement of these rules shall be the same as those provided in the house code of ethics.
   19.  20.  PROCEDURES AND FORMS. The chief clerk of the house, subject to the approval of the house ethics committee, shall prescribe procedures for compliance with these rules, and shall prepare forms for the filing of complaints and make them available to any person.
   21.  TAGS OR BADGES.  During any 2011 regular or extraordinary session, when engaged in lobbying activities before the house, a lobbyist is encouraged to wear, in a clearly visible manner, a tag or badge bearing the lobbyist’s name and designating the lobbyist as such. The wearing of a tag or badge described in this rule shall be mandatory for all subsequent legislative sessions.