[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1412-1413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-529]



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OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET


Governmentwide Guidance for New Restrictions on Lobbying

AGENCY: Office of Management and Budget.

ACTION: Interim Final Amendments to OMB's Governmentwide Guidance on 
Lobbying.

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SUMMARY: The ``Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995,'' signed by the 
President on December 19, 1995, included some amendments to 31 U.S. 
Code Section 1352, popularly known as the Byrd Amendment. The new law 
makes these amendments effective January 1, 1996. In response to the 
Byrd Amendment, in December 1989, OMB issued interim final guidance 
entitled ``Governmentwide Guidance for New Restrictions on Lobbying.'' 
Today's notice includes amendments to OMB's December 1989 guidance to 
reflect the new statute.

DATES: These interim final amendments are effective January 1, 1996. 
Comments must be in writing and must be received by March 19, 1996. 
Late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Office of Management and 
Budget, Lobbying Docket, Room 6025, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503. Comments up to three pages in length may be 
submitted via facsimile to 202-395-3952. Electronic mail comments may 
be submitted via Internet to [email protected]. Please include the 
full body of electronic mail comments in the text and not as an 
attachment. Please include the name, title, organization, postal 
address, and E-mail address in the text of the message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For grants and loans, contact Barbara 
F. Kahlow, Office of Federal Financial Management, OMB (telephone: 202-
395-3053). For contracts, contact Richard C. Loeb, Office of Federal 

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Procurement Policy, OMB (telephone: 202-395-3254).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    On December 19, 1995, the President signed the ``Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995'' (Pub. L. 104-65). This Act includes some 
amendments to 31 U.S. Code Section 1352, popularly known as the Byrd 
Amendment, which was signed into law on October 23, 1989 (Pub. L. 101-
121). The new law makes these amendments effective January 1, 1996.
    The Byrd Amendment required the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to issue governmentwide guidance for agency 
implementation of, and compliance with, the requirements of the Byrd 
Amendment. On December 18, 1989 (published December 20, 1989), OMB 
issued interim final guidance entitled ``Governmentwide Guidance for 
New Restrictions on Lobbying'' (54 FR 52306). The Conference Report 
called for major agencies, as designated by OMB, to issue a common rule 
complying with OMB's guidance. On February 26, 1990, 29 agencies co-
signed such an interim final common rule (55 FR 6736). A second interim 
final common rule, part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), 
for most contracts was published on January 30, 1990 (55 FR 3190).
    Today's notice includes amendments to OMB's December 1989 guidance 
to reflect the new lobbying statute. These amendments will apply 
governmentwide and will subsequently be reflected in the two 
governmentwide common rules.
    The new lobbying statute essentially made three changes to the Byrd 
Amendment. The law: (a) simplified the information required by 31 
U.S.C. 1352(b)(2)-(3) to be disclosed; (b) eliminated the requirement 
in 31 U.S.C. 1352(b)(6) that agencies submit semi-annual compilations 
to Congress; and, (c) eliminated the requirement in 31 U.S.C. 1352(d) 
for the Inspectors General's annual report to Congress.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    These amendments contain information collection requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. A Paperwork Reduction Act 
emergency approval was requested by OMB pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(j) 
and 5 CFR 1320.13 and was granted under OMB control number 0348-0046. 
OMB estimates a substantial reduction in reporting burden due to these 
amendments. Instead of the prior estimate of 30 minutes per response, 
OMB estimates only 10 minutes per response.
Alice M. Rivlin,
Director.

PART ____ NEW RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING

    1. The authority citation for part ____ is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 319, Pub. L. 101-121, 103 Stat. 750, as amended 
by sec. 10, Pub. L. 104-65, 109 Stat. 700 (31 U.S.C. 1352).

    2. Subpart F (Agency Reports), consisting of Sec. ______.600 (Semi-
annual compilation) and Sec. ______.605 (Inspector General report), is 
removed.
    3. In Appendix B, Standard Form (SF)-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying 
Activities, is amended as follows:
    a. Item 10a is amended by revising ``Name and Address of Lobbying 
Entity'' to read ``Name and Address of Lobbying Registrant'';
    b. In item 10, the statement ``(attach Continuation Sheet(s) SF-
LLL-A, if necessary)'' is removed; and,
    c. Items 11 through 15 are removed.
    4. In Appendix B, the Instructions for Completion of SF-LLL, 
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities are amended as follows:
    a. In the introductory text, remove the sentence ``Use the SF-LLL-A 
Continuation Sheet for additional information if the space on the form 
is inadequate.'';
    b. The instruction for item 10(a) is amended by revising ``lobbying 
entity'' to read ``registrant under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995''; and,
    c. The instructions for items 11 through 15 are removed.
    5. The SF-LLL-A Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Continuation 
Sheet is removed.
[FR Doc. 96-529 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3110-01-P