Bill Text: VA HB2401 | 2019 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Public service corporations; statements of government influence spending.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-05 - Left in Commerce and Labor [HB2401 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HB2401-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-8.3 as follows:
§56-8.3. Public service corporations; statements of government influence spending.
A. As used in this section:
"Lobbying expenditures" means any salaries, compensation, or other expenditures made in furtherance of lobbying, as defined in §2.2-419, or for the purpose of influencing, attempting to influence, or preparing to influence any legislative official, executive official, member of the Commission, or member of a board or commission, including the staff of such officials or members, through oral or written communication. "Lobbying expenditures" includes any spending on events, travel, entertainment, communications, compensation, and other things or activities in support of, in preparation for, or on lobbying efforts.
"Statement of government influence spending" means an annual report that discloses, by separate line item identifying the amount, date, payee, and purpose, each expenditure made by a public service corporation to influence government actions or public policy. This report shall include the total amount spent in the calendar year preceding the year in which it is filed by the public service corporation, its affiliates, or any person with which the public service corporation contracted to perform work on its behalf that consists of or is related to (i) lobbying expenditures, (ii) industry association dues, and (iii) payments made to any person that seeks to influence public policy.
B. Each public service corporation shall file its statement of government influence spending, accompanied by an affidavit executed by an officer of the public service corporation certifying the statement's accuracy, with the Commission on or before January 15 each year.
C. Each public service corporation shall submit a copy of its statement of government influence spending to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Commerce and Labor and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor on or before January 15 of each year.
D. Each statement of government influence spending filed with the Commission pursuant to subsection B shall be retained and made available for public inspection. The Commission shall (i) prepare summaries of each such statement and (ii) post such summaries and statements of government influence spending on the Commission's website.
E. The Commission shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary to implement and enforce this section, including a regulation defining "industry association dues" and "payments made to a person that seeks to influence public policy."
