Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick today signed legislation that delays the effective date of sweeping lobbying law provisions that are part of the state's new Ethics Reform package, a law that the Governor signed in July of this year. Governor Patrick's signature comes two days after the Legislature enacted changes to postpone the law's effective date to January 1, 2010, which coincides with the Secretary of State's current annual and semi-annual lobbying registration and disclosure requirements.
The new effective date enables the Secretary's office to respond to requests seeking clarity on the new definitions related to lobbying, as well as to develop training and educational resources to guide people through the new law. It will also provide non-profits and other entities additional time to develop and implement the required compliance programs and register, if necessary.
Mintz Levin's Government Practice Group has been working with clients to analyze current practices to determine if lobbyist registration is necessary, and thereafter on compliance with lobbying law reporting and disclosure programs. We can help conduct risk assessments, complete disclosure reporting, develop or review your lobbying policies (including employee training, internal ethics and compliance audits), and draft advisory opinion requests.
For a detailed description of the legislation, see our July 2, 2009 advisory, and see our September 30, 2009 advisory to learn more about the law's delayed sections.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
