<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" citation="COMAR 19A.04.02.06" title_num="19A" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="02" heading="Lobbying.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Unless the Commission grants a county or municipality a modification or exemption as provided in COMAR 19A.04.03.03, the local law shall include lobbying provisions as described in this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Lobbying Registration.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>To be substantially similar to the Public Ethics Law, the local law shall require, at a minimum, that a person who provides elected local officials, appointed officials, or employees with food, entertainment, or other gifts exceeding an amount specified in the local law during a period specified in the local law in connection with efforts to influence official local actions to register as a lobbyist with the agency responsible for implementing the local law on the form provided by that agency.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The local law shall require that a lobbyist registration shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Identify the lobbyist, the subject matters on which the lobbyist will lobby, and any other person for whom the lobbyist lobbies; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Cover a defined period of time, as specified in the local law.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The local law shall require periodic disclosure, including identification of recipients, of food, entertainment, and gifts to elected local officials, nonelected local officials, and local employees, from a lobbyist when the cumulative value of the gifts exceeds an amount specified in the local law.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A local law may adopt provisions similar to the lobbying provisions of General Provisions Article, Title 5, Subtitle 7, Annotated Code of Maryland, including:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Compensation-based registration criteria, a requirement to report compensation received by a lobbyist for lobbying activities, and rules distinguishing between executive and legislative lobbying efforts;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Lobbying registration and reporting requirements for lobbying related to regulations, executive orders, and procurement; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Registration requirements similar to General Provisions Article, §5-702(1), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>To be substantially similar to the Public Ethics Law, the local law shall provide that lobbying registrations and reports are public records and are available for public inspection and copying.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>