46-269

 

Chapter 46.--LEGISLATURE

Article 2.--STATE GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS

 

 

   46-269. Same; public record; content of report; contribution to a single special event; reports by lobbyists; requirements; maintenance of records; inspection by commission. Each report required to be filed by K.S.A. 46-268, and amendments thereto, is a public record and shall be open to public inspection upon request. Such report shall disclose the following:

   (a) The full name and address of each person who has paid compensation for lobbying to the lobbyist or has paid for expenses of lobbying by the lobbyist during the period reported.

   (b) The aggregate amount or value of all expenditures made, except for expenses of general office overhead, by the lobbyist or by the lobbyist’s employer for or in direct relation to lobbying during the reporting period, if such expenditures exceed $100. Individual expenditures of less than $2 shall not be required to be reported under this subsection. Every lobbyist shall keep detailed accounts of all expenditures required to be reported pursuant to K.S.A. 46-268, and amendments thereto. The expenditures shall be reported according to the following categories of expenditures:

   (1)  Food and beverages provided as hospitality;

   (2)  entertainment, gifts, honoraria or payments;

   (3)  mass media communications;

   (4)  recreation provided as hospitality;

   (5) communications for the purpose of influencing legislative or executive action; and

   (6) all other reportable expenditures made in the performance of services as a lobbyist.

With regard to expenditures for entertainment or hospitality that is primarily recreation, food and beverages, only amounts expended on a state officer or employee or state officer elect or on an employee or officer or officer elect of the judicial branch or on such officer or employee’s spouse shall be considered to be for or in direct relation to lobbying. Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection and subsection (d), no lobbyist shall be responsible to report any expenditure by the lobbyist’s employer of which such person has no knowledge.

   (c) (1) In addition to the information reported pursuant to subsection (b), each lobbyist expending an aggregate amount of $100 or more for lobbying in any reporting period shall report any gift, entertainment or hospitality provided to state officers or employees or state officers elect or to members, members elect or employees of the judicial branch of government. Such report shall disclose the full name of the legislator or legislator elect, member, member elect or employee of the judicial branch or the state officer or employee or state officer elect who received such gift, entertainment or hospitality, the amount expended on such gift, entertainment or hospitality and the date the gift, entertainment or hospitality was provided.

   (2)  No report shall be required to be filed pursuant to this subsection (c) for the following:

   (A)  Meals, the provision of which is motivated by a personal or family relationship;

   (B) meals provided at public events in which the person is attending in an official capacity;

   (C)  meals provided to a person subject to this section when it is obvious such meals are not being provided because of the person’s official position;

   (D)  food such as soft drinks, coffee or snack foods not offered as part of a meal; and

   (E) entertainment or hospitality in the form of recreation, food and beverages provided at an event to which the following have been invited:

   (i)  All members of the legislature or all members of either house of the legislature; or

   (ii) all members of a political party caucus of the legislature or all members of a political party caucus of either house of the legislature.

   (d) Except as provided by subsection (c), whenever an individual lobbyist contributes to a single special event, such lobbyist shall report only the aggregate amount or value of the expenditure contributed by such lobbyist.

   (e)  Whenever more than one lobbyist is employed by a single employer, the reports required by this section relating to such employer shall be made by only one such lobbyist and that lobbyist shall be the lobbyist who is most directly connected with the particular expenditure or gift, honoraria or payment. No expenditure or gift, honoraria or payment re- quired to be reported by this section shall be reported by more than one lobbyist.

   (f) All accounts, records and documents of the lobbyist which relate to every expenditure reported or which should have been reported shall be maintained and preserved by the lobbyist for a period of five years from the date of the filing of such report or statement and may be inspected under conditions determined by the commission.

 

History: L. 1974, ch. 353, § 55; L. 1975, ch. 272,§ 20; L. 1981, ch. 171, § 45; L. 1983, ch. 173, § 2; L.1987, ch. 199, § 1; L. 1990, ch. 306, § 12; L. 1991,ch. 150, § 44; L. 1997, ch. 155, § 1; L. 2000, ch. 124,§ 3; July 1.

 

Law Review and Bar Journal References:

      "Compelled Cost Disclosure of Grass Roots Lobbying Expenses: Necessary Government Voyeurism or Chilled Political Speech?" Ron Smith, 6 Kan. J.L. & Pub. Pol'y, No. 1, 115 (1996).

Governmental Ethics Commission Opinions:

      Reporting of lobbyist expenditures. 87-9.

      Minimum records to be maintained by lobbyists discussed. 90-26.

      Lobbying expenditures; detailed accounts; accounts, records and documents to be kept. 97-18.

      Lobbying contracts; maintenance as account, record or document. 97-19.

      Records required to be kept by lobbyist, including 2000 HB 2627. 2000-23.