Florida Senate - 2020                                     SB 768
       
       
        
       By Senator Perry
       
       
       
       
       
       8-00783-20                                             2020768__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to local government lobbyist
    3         registration fees; amending s. 112.3262, F.S.;
    4         authorizing the Commission on Ethics to establish a
    5         lobbyist registration fee by rule; specifying
    6         limitations for such fee; specifying that a
    7         registration is incomplete until the commission
    8         receives a registration fee; prohibiting governmental
    9         entities from charging fees for lobbyist or principal
   10         registration; providing an exception for enforcement
   11         costs; providing a contingent effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Subsection (12) is added to section 112.3262,
   16  Florida Statutes, as created by SB __, to read:
   17         112.3262 Lobbying before governmental entities.—
   18         (12)(a) The annual lobbyist registration fee shall be
   19  established by commission rule. The fee may not exceed $40 for
   20  each principal represented for one county and governmental
   21  entities therein or one multi-county governmental entity, or
   22  exceed $5 for each principal represented for each additional
   23  county and governmental entities therein or additional multi
   24  county governmental entities. In addition to any requirements in
   25  subsection (3), a registration is incomplete until the
   26  commission receives the lobbyist’s registration fee.
   27         (b) A governmental entity may not charge a fee for the
   28  registration of lobbyists and principals, or for the enforcement
   29  of lobbyist regulation except as may be reasonable and necessary
   30  to cover the cost of such enforcement. A governmental entity may
   31  not charge a fee for enforcement upon initial registration. Such
   32  fees may only be charged in the event that an enforcement action
   33  is initiated and is limited to the direct and actual cost of
   34  enforcement.
   35         Section 2. This act shall take effect on the same date that
   36  SB __ or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation
   37  is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension
   38  thereof and becomes a law.