Posted: | January 29, 2015 11:09 AM |
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From: | Senator Joseph B. Scarnati, III |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Lobbyist Disclosure Requirements |
In the near future I plan to reintroduce a measure that will require lobbyists and lobbying firms to register and file reports electronically through the computerized system developed by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Under current law, lobbyists may register and file reports with the Department on paper forms through traditional mail. In some cases this has led to delayed posting of the information on the Department's publicly accessible website. In addition, my legislation would require the Department to post on its Lobbyist Disclosure website all lobbying registration and reporting documents it receives within seven days of the filing. In the past, it has often taken months after lobbyist disclosure documents were completed and filed before they were posted on the Department’s website. Timely internet publication of all lobbying documents is an important part of improving transparency in state government. This legislation will be similar to Senate Bill 308 of last session. Previous co-sponsors include Senators PILEGGI, BROWNE, GORDNER, McILHINNEY, ARGALL, YAW, FOLMER, VOGEL, TOMLINSON, RAFFERTY, VANCE, TARTAGLIONE, WILLIAMS, YUDICHAK, ALLOWAY, SMUCKER, D. WHITE, WARD, MENSCH, BAKER, FONTANA, WOZNIAK AND BOSCOLA. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as SB695