41-1232.01. Registration by public bodies; fee

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, before any public body causes any lobbying to occur on its behalf, the public body shall register with the secretary of state by filing a written statement in a format prescribed by the secretary of state, subscribed under penalty of perjury, containing the following information:

1. The name and business address of the public body.

2. The name and business address of a person who is the designated public lobbyist for the public body, regardless of whether this person is engaged to lobby for compensation.

3. The name and business address of each authorized public lobbyist employed by, retained by or representing the public body.

4. For each designated public lobbyist or authorized public lobbyist that is not an individual, the name and business address of all employees of the designated public lobbyist or authorized public lobbyist who may lobby on the public body's behalf.

5. A description of the expenses for which each designated public lobbyist and authorized public lobbyist is to be reimbursed by the public body.

B. If a registration as required by subsection A of this section cannot be accomplished or is not practicable in advance of the first attempt or occasion to lobby, registration must occur within five business days after the day on which the first lobbying attempt, occasion or activity occurs.

C. Each public body shall reregister not later than 5:00 p.m. on the second Monday in January of each odd numbered year unless at that time the public body no longer engages any designated public lobbyist or authorized public lobbyist. A public body shall file its registration at any time beginning December 1 in the even numbered year until 5:00 p.m. on the second Monday in January in the odd numbered year. Each public body shall amend its registration statement within five business days of any change in the information required by subsection A of this section.

D. A public body shall provide notice to each designated public lobbyist or authorized public lobbyist who is named in the public body's registration or reregistration statement. The notice shall state that the public body has listed the designated public lobbyist or authorized public lobbyist on the public body's registration or reregistration statement and that this listing obligates the designated public lobbyist to register and file all reports required by this article. The notice shall be accompanied by a summary of the lobbyist laws published by the secretary of state, the first page of the public body's registration and the page of the schedule on which the designated or authorized public lobbyist's name appears.

E. Each public body that registers a designated public lobbyist who receives compensation for lobbying from the public body, at the time of registering or reregistering, shall pay a registration or reregistration fee of $25 to the secretary of state. A public body may not be charged more than one $25 fee per registration period. Registration and reregistration fees collected by the secretary of state shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the state general fund, and, subject to legislative appropriation, the registration and reregistration fees for public bodies shall be used to reduce the costs associated with enforcing the lobbyist registration laws.