Sec. 1. 3 MRSA §312-A, sub-§9, as amended by PL 1993, c. 446, Pt. A, §5, is further amended to read:

9. Lobbying. "Lobbying" means to communicate directly with any official in the Legislature for the purpose of influencing any legislative action or with the Governor for the purpose of influencing the approval or veto of a legislative action when reimbursement for expenditures or compensation is made for those activities. It includes the time spent to prepare and submit to the Governor, a Legislator or a legislative committee oral and written proposals for, or testimony or analyses concerning, a legislative action. It also includes time spent attending legislative hearings, work sessions and floor debates concerning any legislative action that is the subject of lobbying.

Sec. 2. 3 MRSA §327 is enacted to read:

§327.__Identification required

Prior to presenting any written or oral testimony to a committee of the Legislature or a board, commission or similar entity established under Title 5, chapter 379, a registered lobbyist or any person who is reimbursed for expenditures or compensated for presenting this testimony shall disclose the individual's status as a lobbyist or a person who is reimbursed or compensated for presenting this testimony and the name of the person employing, retaining or contracting for the services of the lobbyist or person.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the lobbyist disclosure law in 2 ways. It broadens the definition of lobbying to include time spent attending legislative hearings, work sessions and floor debate. The bill also requires that lobbyists and others who are compensated to present testimony but are not registered lobbyists identify themselves and their employers before presenting written or oral testimony to any legislative committee or board, commission or similar agency of State Government.