EXPAND LOBBYIST REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

FOR TRAVEL & LODGING AND FOOD & TRAVEL

House Bill 6011 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Chris Ward

Committee:  House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics

Complete to 5-18-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6011 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE          

House Bill 6011 would amend Public Act 472 of 1978, the Lobby Registration Act, to expand the reporting requirements when lobbyists pay for the food and travel of state officials.  Generally speaking, all expenditures for travel and lodging and for food and beverages provided to a public official would have to be reported.

Under the act, lobbyists must file financial reports each year by January 31 and August 31. The August report covers the months from January 1 through July 31, while the January report covers August 1 to December 31.

Currently, a lobbyist must file with the secretary of state an account of every financial transaction during a reporting period involving goods or services with a value of at least $1,025 and must report travel and lodging expenses paid for or reimbursed to a public official in connection with public business in excess of $675.  (These thresholds are revised annually based on changes in the Detroit consumer price index; the figures cited are for the calendar year 2006).  House Bill 6011 would retain the current threshold for financial transactions but revise the reporting requirement for travel and lodging so that all travel and lodging expenses would have to be reported.

In addition, House Bill 6011 would require that all expenditures for food and beverage provided to a public official be reported.  Currently under the law, food and beverage expenditures must be reported when they exceed $325 during the calendar year or $51 in any one month, for a single public official.  (These are the inflation-adjusted amounts.)

MCL 4.418

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Robin Risko

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.