Bill Text: NJ A3382 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires greater disclosure of substantive contacts between government officials and governmental affairs agents.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-03 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A3382 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A3382-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires greater disclosure of substantive contacts between government officials and governmental affairs agents.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning disclosure by legislative affairs agents and amending P.L.1971, c.183.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-22) is amended to read as follows:
5. a. Every governmental affairs agent shall file with the commission a signed quarterly report of his activity in attempting to influence legislation, regulation or governmental processes during each such quarter.
b. The quarterly reports required under this section shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the commission and shall be filed between the first and tenth days of each calendar quarter for such activity during the preceding calendar quarter. The commission may, in its discretion, permit joint reports by persons subject to this act.
c. Each such quarterly report shall:
(1) describe the particular items of legislation, regulation, or governmental process, the particular items in the annual appropriation legislation or appropriation legislation that is supplemental to that legislation, and any general category or type of legislation, regulation or governmental process regarding which the governmental affairs agent acted as a governmental affairs agent during the quarter, and any particular items or general types of legislation, regulation, or governmental processes which he actively promoted or opposed during the quarter; [and]
(2) describe, at a minimum: (a) the full name and title of each government official with whom the governmental affairs agent had substantive contact; (b) each instance, including the date and location and address, at which that contact occurred; and (c) the specific governmental process or other relevant topic discussed during each such contact; and
(3) supply any information necessary to make the notice of representation filed by the governmental affairs agent pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-21), current and accurate as of the final day of the calendar quarter covered by the report.
As used in this section, "substantive contact" means every contact, whether in person, by mail, or by electronic means, between a government official subject to the provisions of P.L.1971, c.183 (C.52:13C-18 et seq.) and a governmental affairs agent that is more than incidental or unplanned, and was scheduled, recurring, or purposeful.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.201, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect on January 1st next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
The purpose of this bill is to strengthen the disclosure required by registered governmental affairs agents.
Specifically, the bill requires that each quarterly report filed by a governmental agent must, in addition to the information required by current law, describe, at a minimum: a) the full name and title of each government official with whom the governmental affairs agent had substantive contact; b) each instance, including the date and location and address, at which that contact occurred; and c) the specific governmental process or other relevant topic discussed during each such contact.
As used in this bill, "substantive contact" means every contact, whether in person, by mail, or by electronic means, between a government official subject to the provisions of the "Legislative and Governmental Process Activities Disclosure Act" (N.J.S.A.52:13C-18 et seq.), and a governmental affairs agent that is more than incidental or unplanned, and was scheduled, recurring, or purposeful.
The bill is based on a recommendation made in the New Jersey Commission of Investigation's report entitled Gaming the System: Abuse and Influence Peddling in New Jersey's Used-Car Industry (December 2015).
