I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2339 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 23, 2011 Mr. Quigley (for himself and Mr. Polis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To create a Lobbying Disclosure Act Task Force, and to make certain modifications to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Lobbyist Disclosure Enhancement Act.

2.

Modifications to enforcement

(a)

Lobbying Disclosure Act Task Force

(1)

Establishment

The Attorney General shall establish the Lobbying Disclosure Act Enforcement Task Force (in this subsection referred to as the Task Force). (2)

Functions

The Task Force— (A)shall have primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting each case referred to the Attorney General under section 6(a)(8) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605(a)(8)); (B)shall collect and disseminate information with respect to the enforcement of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); (C)shall audit, at a minimum on an annual basis, and as frequently as deemed necessary by the Task Force, the extent of compliance or noncompliance with the requirements of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 by lobbyists, lobbying firms, and registrants under that Act through a random sampling of lobbying registrations and reports filed under that Act during each calendar year; and (D)shall establish, publicize, and operate a toll-free telephone number to serve as a hotline for members of the public to report noncompliance with lobbyist disclosure requirements under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, and shall develop a mechanism to allow members of the public to report such noncompliance online. (b)

Referral of cases to the Attorney General

Section 6(a) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605(a)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (8), by striking United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and inserting Attorney General; and (2)in paragraph (11), by striking United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and inserting Attorney General. (c)

Recommendations for improved enforcement

The Attorney General may make recommendations to Congress with respect to— (1)the enforcement of and compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995; and (2)the need for resources available for the enhanced enforcement of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. (d)

Information in enforcement reports

Section 6(b)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605(b)(1)) is amended by striking by case and all that follows through public record and inserting by case and name of the individual lobbyists or lobbying firms involved, any sentences imposed.

3.

Definition of lobbyist

Section 3(10) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1602(10)) is amended by striking , other than an individual and all that follows through period.

4.

Expedited online registration of lobbyists; expansion of registrants

Section 4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1603(a)(1)) is amended— (1)by striking 45 days and inserting 5 days; (2)by striking , or on the first business day after such 45th day if such 45th day is not a business day, and inserting , or on the first business day occurring after such 5th day if such 5th day does not occur on a business day,; and (3)by inserting online after shall register.

5.

Disclosure of additional information by lobbyists

Section 5(b)(2)(A) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)(2)(A)) is amended— (1)by striking (A) and inserting (A)(i); (2)by adding and after the semicolon; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (ii)for each issue listed under clause (i), a list identifying— (I)each covered executive branch official with whom the lobbyist engaged in lobbying activities; (II)each covered legislative branch official with whom the lobbyist engaged in lobbying activities and— (aa)if the official is an employee of a Member of Congress, the name of that Member of Congress; or (bb)if the official is an employee described in clause (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of section 3(4), the name of the Member or Members of Congress who hired the official or for whom the official performs duties as such official; and (III)the date of each lobbying contact; .

6.

Disclosure of political contributions

Section 5(d)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604(d)(1)) is amended— (1)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 30 days after and all that follows through 30th day is not and inserting 20 days after the end of the quarterly period beginning on the first day of January, April, July, and October of each year, or on the first business day after such 20th day if such 20th day is not; and (2)by striking semiannual period each place it appears and inserting quarterly period.

7.

Effective date

(a)

Section 2

Section 2 and the amendments made by that section take effect upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b)

Amendments

The amendments made by sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 take effect on the first day of the first quarterly period described in section 5(a) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604(a)) that begins after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.