California Enhances Lobbying Disclosure Requirements for Lobbyist Employers and "$5,000 Filers"
The California Fair Political Practices Commission ("FPPC") by unanimous vote on January 21, 2016 revised its regulation governing the disclosure of lobbying expenditures by lobbyist employers and so-called "$5,000 filers." These more comprehensive disclosures will be required with first-quarter reports, due no later than April 30, 2016.
Under the new regulation, such organizations (but not lobbyists or lobbying firms) must now provide an itemized disclosure of expenditures currently disclosed on Form 635 (lobbyist employers) and Form 645 ($5,000 filers) in a single lump-sum as "other payments to influence" legislative or administrative action. Instead, such payments totaling $2,500 or more during the reporting period to a single payee must now be itemized and include the following information:
• The name and business address of the payee;
• Total payments made to the payee during the reporting period;
• The cumulative amount paid to the payee during the calendar year; and
• A payment code describing the primary purpose of the payment as one of the following:
- Salary related to lobbying provided to non-lobbyists engaged in lobbying for 10 percent or more in a month;
- Lobbyist expenses;
- Legislative related-services;
- Consultants and government relations;
- Public affairs;
- Advertising;
- Research;
- Lobbying events; or
- Other.
Overhead expenses allocable to influencing legislative or administrative action must still be reported in a lump-sum under "other payments to influence" on Form 635 (lobbyist employers) or Form 645 ($5,000 filers), but now must also be reported on Form 640 as "overhead expenses."
The new disclosures must be made on a yet-to-be-finalized form that will be a modified version of the disclosure form (Form 640) currently used by state and local government agencies to disclose such lobbying expenditures in an itemized fashion. These more comprehensive disclosures will be required with first-quarter reports, due no later than April 30, 2016.
Caplin & Drysdale's Political Law Group counsels for-profit corporations, nonprofit entities, and their principals on these and other matters relating to political law compliance. We work collaboratively with in-house personnel to craft tailored political activity policies and programs. If you have questions concerning this alert or for more information, please contact:
| Trevor Potter | Matthew T. Sanderson | Bryson B. Morgan |
________________________________________________
About Caplin & Drysdale
Having celebrated our 50th Anniversary in 2014, Caplin & Drysdale continues to be a leading provider of tax, tax controversy, and litigation legal services to corporations, individuals, and nonprofits throughout the United States and around the world. We are also privileged to serve as legal advisors to accounting firms, financial institutions, law firms, and other professional services organizations.
The firm's reputation over the years has earned us the trust and respect of clients, industry peers, and government agencies. Moreover, clients rely on our broad knowledge of the law and our keen insights into their business concerns and personal interests. Our lawyers' strong tactical and problem-solving skills - combined with substantial experience handling a variety of complex, high stakes, matters in a boutique environment - make us one the nation's most distinctive law firms.
With offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., Caplin & Drysdale's core practice areas include:
For more information, please visit us at www.caplindrysdale.com.
| Washington, DC Office: | New York, NY Office: |
___________________________
Disclaimer
This communication does not provide legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship with you or any other reader. If you require legal guidance in any specific situation, you should engage a qualified lawyer for that purpose. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Attorney Advertising
It is possible that under the laws, rules, or regulations of certain jurisdictions, this may be construed as an advertisement or solicitation.
© 2015 Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered
All Rights Reserved.
