Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0580-01-01-.03 - EMPLOYER OF LOBBYIST REGISTRATION

(1) Not later than seven (7) days after employing, retaining or otherwise arranging for a lobbyist to engage in lobbying, the employer of a lobbyist shall, as required by T.C.A. §§ 3-6-301(8) and 3-6-302, register with the Commission in the form and manner directed by the Commission.

(2) As a component of the registration process, the employer shall verify that the lobbyist who is authorized to represent the employer has delivered to the employer a copy of the Commission ethics manual as required by T.C.A. § 3-6-114(c)(1). In lieu of physical delivery, for the purpose of this rule, the ethics manual shall be considered "delivered" by the lobbyist to the employer if:

(a) the lobbyist provides to the employer the Commission's current internet address where the manual is located; or

(b) a lobbying firm, which provides more than one (1) lobbyist to the employer, mails or e-mails a copy of the ethics manual to the employer with a listing of all individuals who are authorized to lobby for the employer.

(3) An employer of a lobbyist shall, within thirty (30) days of registration, submit a nonrefundable registration fee to the Commission in the form and manner directed by the Commission in the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) per individual lobbyist registered; provided, however, that the Commission may, in its discretion in cases of extreme hardship as determined by a quorum of the Commission, reduce the registration fee or grant a waiver from the registration fee for a duly incorporated not-for-profit organization.

(4) Regardless of whether or not subject to a fee pursuant to the preceeding paragraph (3), registered employers shall be subject to the lobbying restrictions and gift prohibitions contained in T.C.A. §§ 3-6-304 and 3-6-305 for the entire registration year, which runs from October 1 through September 30, even if the lobbyist's employment is terminated.

(5) For the purposes of this Chapter, no registration shall be considered complete until all information and documentation reasonably required to verify compliance with these rules has been received by the Commission and all fees have been received as directed by the Commission.

(6) In the event that the Commission determines that circumstances beyond the lobbyist's control, including, but not limited to technological problems on the Commission's website, prevent the lobbyist from timely submitting forms or fees in the manner, electronic or otherwise, directed by the Commission, the Commission may, in its discretion, allow the form or fee to be submitted in an alternative manner, or may grant the lobbyist a reasonable extension of time to submit the required form or fee in the proper manner.

(7) Amendments. An employer of a lobbyist shall update, correct or otherwise modify the employer of lobbyist's registration statement within seven (7) days of the occurrence of any event, action or changed circumstance that renders the registration statement inaccurate or incomplete.

(a) Employers shall not be required to verify receipt of the Commission ethics manual when amending a current registration.

(b) Registration Following Termination of Lobbyist's Employment. If a lobbyist's employment with the employer is terminated for any reason by either party, but the lobbyist is subsequently re-employed or retained, the employer must submit a new registration form and fee in accordance with the preceeding paragraphs (1) through (3), regardless of whether the lobbyist was already registered in the current registration year.

(8) The computation of time within which to do any act required by this part shall be in accordance with T.C.A. § 1-3-102; provided, however, that documentation which has been properly submitted electronically in the form and manner directed by the Commission shall be considered filed at the actual date and time electronically received by the Commission.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0580-01-01-.03

Public necessity rule August 9, 2006; expired January 21, 2007. Public necessity rule filed February 2, 2007; expired July 17, 2007. Original rule filed March 23, 2007; effective July 27, 2007. Amendment filed November 30, 2007; effective March 23, 2008.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 3-6-102, 3-6-302, 3-6-304, 3-6-305, 3-6-105, and 3-6-308(a)(9).