North Carolina § 120C-200 - Lobbyist registration procedure.

§ 120C-200. Lobbyist registration procedure.

A lobbyist shall file a separate registration statement for each principal the lobbyist represents with the Secretary of State before engaging in any lobbying. It shall be unlawful for an individual to lobby without registering within one business day of engaging in any lobbying as defined in G.S. 120C-100(a)(17) unless exempted by this Chapter. The form of the registration shall be prescribed by the Secretary of State, be filed electronically, and shall include the registrant's full name, firm, complete address, and telephone number; the registrant's place of business; the full name, complete address, and telephone number of each principal the lobbyist represents; and a general description of the matters on which the registrant expects to act as a lobbyist. Each lobbyist shall electronically file an amended registration form with the Secretary of State no later than 10 business days after any change in the information supplied in the lobbyist's last registration under subsection (b) of this section. Each supplementary registration shall include a complete statement of the information that has changed. Unless a resignation is filed under G.S. 120C-210, each registration statement of a lobbyist required under this Chapter shall be effective from the date of filing until January 1 of the following year. The lobbyist shall file a new registration statement after that date, and the applicable fee shall be due and payable. Each lobbyist shall identify himself or herself as a lobbyist prior to engaging in lobbying communications or activities with a designated individual. The lobbyist shall also disclose the identity of the lobbyist principal connected to that lobbying communication or activity. In addition to the information required for registration under subsection (b) of this section, former employees of a State agency who register as a lobbyist within six months after voluntary separation or separation for cause from employment with a State agency shall also indicate which State agency with which the former employee was employed. History (1933, c. 11, s. 2; 1973, c. 1451; 1975, c. 820, s. 1; 1983, c. 713, s. 51; 1991, c. 740, s. 1.1; 2004-203, s. 50(a); 2006-201, s. 18; 2008-213, ss. 13, 90; 2009-549, s. 3; 2010-169, s. 4(c); 2013-360, s. 27.1(c); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).) Editor's Note. - This section was recodified as now former G.S. 163A-270 by Session Laws 2017-6, s. 3. Former G.S. 163A-270 was then re-recodified as this section by Session Laws 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), effective January 31, 2019. The historical citation from the former section has been added to this section as re-recodified. Session Laws 2006-66, s. 6.20, as added by Session Laws 2006-221, s. 3B, provides: "There is created in the Office of State Budget and Management a Special Reserve for Lobbying Registration Reform. Of the funds appropriated to the Office of the Secretary of State in S.L. 2005-276 for Lobbyist Registration Enhancement and the funds appropriated in S.L. 2006-66 to the Office of the Secretary of State for Lobbyist Registration Reform, the sum of one hundred thirty-five thousand eight hundred two dollars ($135,802) in recurring funds and twenty-four thousand dollars ($24,000) in nonrecurring funds shall be transferred to the Reserve. "After consultation with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Director of the Budget may establish two positions and authorize the expenditure of these funds to implement the provisions of House Bill 1843 of the 2005 General Assembly, if enacted." Session Laws 2006-66, s. 1.2, provides: "This act shall be known as 'The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2006'." Session Laws 2006-66, s. 28.3, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2006-2007 fiscal year." Session Laws 2006-66, s. 28.6, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 27.1(i), made the amendments to subsections (b) and (c) by Session Laws 2013-360, s. 27.1(c), applicable to all filings, payments due, and registrations, on or after October 1, 2013. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.'" Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2017-6, s. 22, provides in part: "Notwithstanding the recodification in Section 3 of this act, the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement shall not administer or enforce Part 1, Part 3, or Part 6 of Article 8 of Chapter 163A of the General Statutes, and the Secretary of State shall maintain the authority to administer and enforce Articles 2, 4, and 8 of Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, as those Articles existed on May 1, 2017, until October 1, 2017." Session Laws 2018-146, s. 3.1(b), effective January 31, 2019, repealed Session Laws 2017-6, s. 3, which had recodified this section. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2008-213, s. 13, effective August 15, 2008, substituted "an individual" for "a person" in subsection (a). Session Laws 2008-213, s. 90, effective August 15, 2008, substituted "lobbyist principal" for "lobbyist's principal" in subsection (e). Session Laws 2009-549, s. 3, effective August 28, 2009, added "Unless a resignation is filed under G.S. 120C-210," at the beginning of subsection (d). Session Laws 2010-169, s. 4(c), effective October 1, 2010, and applicable to individuals who leave office or separate from employment on or after that date, added subsection (f).