HB971: Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Sales and Use Tax Fund; established.


HOUSE BILL NO. 971
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations
on February 10, 2010)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Rust)
A BILL to amend and reenact ?? 15.2-4838.1, 58.1-604.1, 58.1-608.3, 58.1-614, and 58.1-811 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 15.2-4838.01, 58.1-603.1, 58.1-604.01, and 58.1-802.2 and by adding in Title 58.1 a chapter numbered 22.1, consisting of sections numbered 58.1-2291 through 58.1-2296, relating to transportation funding and administration.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That ?? 15.2-4838.1, 58.1-604.1, 58.1-608.3, 58.1-614, and 58.1-811 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 15.2-4838.01, 58.1-603.1, 58.1-604.01, and 58.1-802.2 and by adding in Title 58.1 a chapter numbered 22.1, consisting of sections numbered 58.1-2291 through 58.1-2296, as follows:

? 15.2-4838.01. Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Sales and Use Tax Fund established.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Sales and Use Tax Fund, hereafter referred to as ?the Fund.? The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All revenues dedicated to the Fund pursuant to ?? 58.1-603.1 and 58.1-604.01 and as may be appropriated by the General Assembly shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund.

Moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Authority as provided in this chapter. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the chairman of the Authority or his designee.

? 15.2-4838.1. Use of certain revenues by the Authority.

A. 1. All revenue received by the Authority from the taxes and fee imposed pursuant to ?? 58.1-603.1, 58.1-604.01, 58.1-604.1, and 58.1-802.2 and the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to ? 15.2-4839 supported by such revenue shall be used for transportation purposes benefiting only those counties and cities that are imposing the real property tax pursuant to ? 58.1-3221.3 at a rate of $0.125 per $100 of assessed value. All revenue and proceeds of bonds under this subdivision shall be allocated pursuant to the provisions of subsections B and C.

2. All other moneys received by the Authority and the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to ? 15.2-4839 supported by such moneys shall be used by the Authority solely for transportation purposes benefiting those counties and cities that are embraced by the Authority. The transportation projects undertaken pursuant to this subdivision shall be as determined by the Authority and not constrained by the provisions of subsections B and C.

B. 1. Forty percent of the revenues under subdivision A 1 shall be distributed on a pro rata basis, with each locality's share being the total of such fees and taxes assessed or imposed by the Authority and received by the Authority that are generated or attributable to the revenues collected in the locality divided by the total of such fees and taxes assessed or imposed by the Authority and received by the Authority revenues. Of the revenues that may be distributed pursuant to this subsection (i) in the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church and the County of Arlington, the first 50% shall be used solely for urban or secondary road construction and improvements and for public transportation purposes, and (ii) in the remaining localities, the first 50% shall be used solely for urban or secondary road construction and improvements. The remainder, as determined solely by the applicable locality, shall be used either for additional urban or secondary road construction; for other transportation capital improvements which have been approved by the most recent long range transportation plan adopted by the Authority; or for public transportation purposes.

2. For road construction and improvements pursuant to this subsection, the Department of Transportation may, on a reimbursement basis, provide the locality with planning, engineering, right-of-way, and construction services for projects funded in whole by the revenues provided to the locality by the Authority.

Solely for purposes of calculating the 40% of revenues to be distributed pursuant to this subsection, the revenue generated pursuant to ? 58.1-3221.3 and Article 8 (? 15.2-2317 et seq.) of Chapter 22 of this title by the counties and cities embraced by the Authority shall be considered revenue of the Authority. None of the revenue distributed by this subsection may be used to repay debt issued before July 1, 2007. Each locality shall provide annually to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority sufficient documentation as required by the Authority showing that the funds distributed under this subsection were used as required by this subsection.

C. The remaining 60% of the revenues from such sources shall be used by the Authority solely for transportation projects and purposes that benefit the counties and cities embraced by the Authority.

1. The remaining 60% of the revenues under this subsection under subdivision A 1 shall be used first to pay any debt service owing on any bonds issued pursuant to ? 15.2-4839, and then as follows: a minimum of $75 million each fiscal year shall be used for transit projects and services of (i) the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority(WMATA) benefiting the localities provided for under subdivision A 1, (ii) the Virginia Railway Express benefiting the localities provided for under subdivision A 1, and (iii) local public transit providers within the localities provided for under subdivision A 1.

a. The next $50 million each fiscal year shall be distributed to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and shall be used for capital improvements benefiting the area embraced by the Authority for WMATA's transit service (Metro). The Authority shall first make use of that portion of such annual distribution as may be necessary under the requirements of federal law for the payment of federal funds to WMATA, but only if the matching federal funds are exclusive of and in addition to the amount of other federal funds appropriated for such purposes and are in an amount not less than the amount of such funds appropriated in the federal fiscal year ending September 30, 2007;

For each year after 2018 any portion of the amount distributed pursuant to this subsection may be used for mass transit improvements in Prince William County;

b. The next $25 million each fiscal year shall be distributed to the Virginia Railway Express for operating and capital improvements, including but not limited to track lease payments, construction of parking, dedicated rail on the Fredericksburg line, rolling stock, expanded service in Prince William County, and service as may be needed as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission's action regarding Fort Belvoir.

2.D. All transportation projects undertaken by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority shall be completed by private contractors accompanied by performance measurement standards, and all contracts shall contain a provision granting the Authority the option to terminate the contract if contractors do not meet such standards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any locality may provide engineering services or right-of-way acquisition for any project with its own forces. The Authority shall avail itself of the strategies permitted under the Public-Private Transportation Act (? 56-556 et seq.) whenever feasible and advantageous. The Authority is independent of any state or local entity, including the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), but the Authority, VDOT and CTB shall consult with one another to avoid duplication of efforts and, at the option of the Authority, may combine efforts to complete specific projects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the request of the Authority, VDOT may provide the Authority with engineering services or right-of-way acquisition for the project with its own forces. When determining what projects to construct under this subsection, the Authority shall base its decisions on the combination that (i) equitably distributes the funds throughout the localities, and (ii) constructs projects that move the most people or commercial traffic in the most cost-effective manner, and on such other factors as approved by the Authority.

3. All revenues deposited to the credit of the Authority shall be used for projects benefiting the localities embraced by the Authority, with each locality's total long-term benefits being approximately equal to the total of the fees and taxes received by the Authority that are generated by or attributable to the locality divided by the total of such fees and taxes received by the Authority.

D. For road construction and improvements pursuant to subsection B, the Department of Transportation may, on a reimbursement basis, provide the locality with planning, engineering, right-of-way, and construction services for projects funded in whole by the revenues provided to the locality by the Authority.

? 58.1-603.1. Additional state sales tax in certain counties and cities in Northern Virginia.

In addition to the sales tax imposed pursuant to ? 58.1-603, there is hereby levied and imposed in each county and city embraced by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority established under ? 15.2-4830 a retail sales tax at the rate of 0.50 percent. Such tax shall not be levied upon food purchased for human consumption as defined in ? 58.1-611.1. Such tax shall be added to the rate of the state sales tax imposed in each such county and city and shall be subject to all the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations published with respect thereto. No discount under ? 58.1-622 shall be allowed for the tax imposed under this section. Such tax shall be administered and collected by the Tax Commissioner in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as provided for the state sales tax under ? 58.1-603.

The revenue generated and collected pursuant to the tax authorized under this section, less the applicable portion of any refunds to taxpayers, shall be deposited by the Comptroller in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Sales and Use Tax Fund established under ? 15.2-4838.01.

? 58.1-604.01. Additional state use tax in certain counties and cities in Northern Virginia.

In addition to the use tax imposed pursuant to ? 58.1-604, there is hereby levied and imposed in each county and city embraced by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority established under ? 15.2-4830 a retail use tax at the rate of 0.50 percent. Such tax shall not be levied upon food purchased for human consumption as defined in ? 58.1-611.1. Such tax shall be added to the rate of the state use tax imposed in such county and city and shall be subject to all the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations published with respect thereto. No discount under ? 58.1-622 shall be allowed for the tax described under this section. Such tax shall be administered and collected by the Tax Commissioner in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as provided for the state use tax under ? 58.1-604.

The revenue generated and collected pursuant to the tax authorized under this section, less the applicable portion of any refunds to taxpayers, shall be deposited by the Comptroller in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Sales and Use Tax Fund established under ? 15.2-4838.01.

? 58.1-604.1. Use tax on motor vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment brought into Virginia for use in performing contracts.

In addition to the use tax levied pursuant to ? 58.1-604 and notwithstanding the provisions of ? 58.1-611, a use tax is levied upon the storage or use of all motor vehicles, machines, machinery, tools or other equipment brought, imported or caused to be brought into this Commonwealth for use in constructing, building or repairing any building, highway, street, sidewalk, bridge, culvert, sewer or water system, drainage or dredging system, railway system, reservoir or dam, hydraulic or power plant, transmission line, tower, dock, wharf, excavation, grading, or other improvement or structure, or any part thereof. The rate of tax is three and one-half percent through midnight on July 31, 2004, and four percent beginning on and after August 1, 2004, on all tangible personal property except motor vehicles, which shall be taxed at the rate of three percent; aircraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent; and watercraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent with a maximum tax of $1,000. However, the total rate of the state use tax in any county or city for which the tax under ? 58.1-604.01 is imposed shall be 4.5 percent on all tangible personal property except motor vehicles, which shall be taxed at the rate of three percent; aircraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent; and watercraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent with a maximum tax of $1,000.

For purposes of this section the words, "motor vehicle" means any vehicle which that is self-propelled and designed primarily for use upon the highways, any vehicle which that is propelled by electric power obtained from trolley wires but not operated upon rails, and any vehicle designed to run upon the highways which is pulled by a self-propelled vehicle, but shall not include any implement of husbandry, farm tractor, road construction or maintenance machinery or equipment, special mobile equipment or any vehicle designed primarily for use in work off the highway.

The tax shall be computed on the basis of such proportion of the original purchase price of such property as the duration of time of use in this the Commonwealth bears to the total useful life thereof. For purposes of this section, the word "use" means use, storage, consumption and "stand-by" time occasioned by weather conditions, controversies or other causes. The tax shall be computed upon the basis of the relative time each item of equipment is in this the Commonwealth rather than upon the basis of actual use. In the absence of satisfactory evidence as to the period of use intended in this the Commonwealth, it will be presumed that such property will remain in this the Commonwealth for the remainder of its useful life, which shall be determined in accordance with the experiences and practices of the building and construction trades.

A transaction taxed under ?? 58.1-604, 58.1-605, 58.1-1402, 58.1-1502, or ? 58.1-2402 shall not also be taxed under this section, nor shall the same transaction be taxed more than once under any section.

? 58.1-608.3. Entitlement to certain sales tax revenues.

A. As used in this section, the following words and terms have the following meanings, unless some other meaning is plainly intended:

"Bonds" means any obligations of a municipality for the payment of money.

"Cost," as applied to any public facility or to extensions or additions to any public facility, includes: (i) the purchase price of any public facility acquired by the municipality or the cost of acquiring all of the capital stock of the corporation owning the public facility and the amount to be paid to discharge any obligations in order to vest title to the public facility or any part of it in the municipality; (ii) expenses incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the public facility; (iii) the cost of plans and specifications, surveys and estimates of costs and of revenues; (iv) the cost of all land, property, rights, easements and franchises acquired; (v) the cost of improvements, property or equipment; (vi) the cost of engineering, legal and other professional services; (vii) the cost of construction or reconstruction; (viii) the cost of all labor, materials, machinery and equipment; (ix) financing charges; (x) interest before and during construction and for up to one year after completion of construction; (xi) start-up costs and operating capital; (xii) payments by a municipality of its share of the cost of any multijurisdictional public facility; (xiii) administrative expense; (xiv) any amounts to be deposited to reserve or replacement funds; and (xv) other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing of the public facility. Any obligation or expense incurred by the public facility in connection with any of the foregoing items of cost may be regarded as a part of the cost.

"Municipality" means any county, city, town, authority, commission, or other public entity.

"Public facility" means (i) any auditorium, coliseum, convention center, sports facility that is designed for use primarily as a baseball stadium for a minor league professional baseball affiliated team or structures attached thereto, or conference center, which is owned by a Virginia county, city, town, authority, or other public entity and where exhibits, meetings, conferences, conventions, seminars, or similar public events may be conducted; (ii) any hotel which is owned by a foundation whose sole purpose is to benefit a state-supported university and which is attached to and is an integral part of such facility, together with any lands reasonably necessary for the conduct of the operation of such events; or (iii) any hotel which is attached to and is an integral part of such facility. However, such public facility must be located in the City of Hampton, City of Newport News, City of Norfolk, City of Portsmouth, City of Richmond, City of Roanoke, City of Salem, City of Staunton, City of Suffolk, or City of Virginia Beach. Any property, real, personal, or mixed, which is necessary or desirable in connection with any such auditorium, coliseum, convention center, baseball stadium or conference center, including, without limitation, facilities for food preparation and serving, parking facilities, and administration offices, is encompassed within this definition. However, structures commonly referred to as "shopping centers" or "malls" shall not constitute a public facility hereunder. A public facility shall not include residential condominiums, townhomes, or other residential units. In addition, only a new public facility, or a public facility which that will undergo a substantial and significant renovation or expansion, shall be eligible under subsection B of this section. A new public facility is one whose construction began after December 31, 1991. A substantial and significant renovation entails a project whose cost is at least 50 percent of the original cost of the facility being renovated and shall have begun after December 31, 1991. A substantial and significant expansion entails an increase in floor space of at least 50 percent over that existing in the preexisting facility and shall have begun after December 31, 1991; or an increase in floor space of at least 10 percent over that existing in a public facility that qualified as such under this section and was constructed after December 31, 1991.

"Sales tax revenues" means such tax collections realized under the Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax Act (? 58.1-600 et seq.) of this title, as limited herein. "Sales tax revenues" does not include the revenue generated by (i) the one-half percent sales and use tax increase enacted by the 1986 Special Session of the General Assembly which that shall be paid to the Transportation Trust Fund as defined in ? 33.1-23.03:1, nor shall it include (ii) the one percent of the state sales and use tax revenue distributed among the counties and cities of the Commonwealth pursuant to subsection D of ? 58.1-638 on the basis of school age population, or (iii) the taxes under ?? 58.1-603.1 and 58.1-604.01. For a public facility that is a sports facility, "sales tax revenues" shall include such revenues generated by transactions taking place upon the premises of a baseball stadium or structures attached thereto.

B. Any municipality which has issued bonds (i) after December 31, 1991, but before January 1, 1996, (ii) on or after January 1, 1998, but before July 1, 1999, (iii) on or after January 1, 1999, but before July 1, 2001, (iv) on or after July 1, 2000, but before July 1, 2003, (v) on or after July 1, 2001, but before July 1, 2005, (vi) on or after July 1, 2004, but before July 1, 2007, or (vii) on or after July 1, 2009, but before July 1, 2012, to pay the cost, or portion thereof, of any public facility shall be entitled to all sales tax revenues generated by transactions taking place in such public facility. Such entitlement shall continue for the lifetime of such bonds, which entitlement shall not exceed 35 years, and all such sales tax revenues shall be applied to repayment of the bonds. The State Comptroller shall remit such sales tax revenues to the municipality on a quarterly basis, subject to such reasonable processing delays as may be required by the Department of Taxation to calculate the actual net sales tax revenues derived from the public facility. The State Comptroller shall make such remittances to eligible municipalities, as provided herein, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax Act (? 58.1-600 et seq.). No such remittances shall be made until construction is completed and, in the case of a renovation or expansion, until the governing body of the municipality has certified that the renovation or expansion is completed.

C. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the pledging of the faith and credit of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any of its revenues, for the payment of any bonds. Any appropriation made pursuant to this section shall be made only from sales tax revenues derived from the public facility for which bonds may have been issued to pay the cost, in whole or in part, of such public facility.

? 58.1-614. Vending machine sales.

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of ?? 58.1-603 and 58.1-604, whenever a dealer makes sales of tangible personal property through vending machines, or in any other manner making collection of the tax impractical, as determined by the Tax Commissioner, such dealer shall be required to report his wholesale purchases for sale at retail from vending machines and shall be required to remit an amount based on four and one-half percent through midnight on July 31, 2004, and five percent beginning on and after August 1, 2004, of such wholesale purchases. However, any dealer located in any county or city for which the taxes under ?? 58.1-603.1 and 58.1-604.01 are imposed shall be required to remit an amount based on 5.5 percent of such wholesale purchases.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of ?? 58.1-605 and 58.1-606, dealers making sales of tangible personal property through vending machines shall report and remit the one percent local sales and use tax computed as provided in subsection A of this section.

C. The provisions of subsections A and B of this section shall not be applicable to vending machine operators all of whose machines are under contract to nonprofit organizations. Such operators shall report only the gross receipts from machines selling items for more than 10 cents and shall be required to remit an amount based on a percentage of their remaining gross sales established by the Tax Commissioner to take into account the inclusion of sales tax.

D. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this section, when the Tax Commissioner determines that it is impractical to collect the tax in the manner provided by those sections, such dealer shall be required to remit an amount based on a percentage of gross receipts which takes into account the inclusion of the sales tax.

E. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to any dealer who fails to maintain records satisfactory to the Tax Commissioner. A dealer making sales of tangible personal property through vending machines shall obtain a certificate of registration under ? 58.1-613 in relevant form for each county or city in which he has machines.

? 58.1-802.2. Regional congestion relief fee.

In addition to any other tax or fee imposed under the provisions of this chapter, a fee, delineated as the "regional congestion relief fee," is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument, or writing by which lands, tenements, or other realty located in any county or city embraced by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority established pursuant to ? 15.2-4830 is sold and is granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to or vested in the purchaser or any other person, by such purchaser's direction. The rate of the fee, when the consideration or value of the interest, whichever is greater, equals or exceeds $100, shall be $0.40 for each $100 or fraction thereof, exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining thereon at the time of the sale, whether such lien is assumed or the realty is sold subject to such lien or encumbrance.

The fee imposed by this section shall be paid by the grantor, or any person who signs on behalf of the grantor, of any deed, instrument, or writing subject to the fee imposed by this section.

Fees imposed by this section shall be collected by the clerk of the court and deposited into the state treasury; as soon as practicable, such fees shall then be transferred to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

? 58.1-811. Exemptions.

A. The taxes imposed by ?? 58.1-801 and 58.1-807 shall not apply to any deed conveying real estate or lease of real estate:

1. To an incorporated college or other incorporated institution of learning not conducted for profit, where such real estate is intended to be used for educational purposes and not as a source of revenue or profit;

2. To an incorporated church or religious body or to the trustee or trustees of any church or religious body, or a corporation mentioned in ? 57-16.1, where such real estate is intended to be used exclusively for religious purposes, or for the residence of the minister of any such church or religious body;

3. To the United States, the Commonwealth, or to any county, city, town, district or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth;

4. To the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy;

5. To any nonstock corporation organized exclusively for the purpose of owning or operating a hospital or hospitals not for pecuniary profit;

6. To a corporation upon its organization by persons in control of the corporation in a transaction which qualifies for nonrecognition of gain or loss pursuant to ? 351 of the Internal Revenue Code as it exists at the time of the conveyance;

7. From a corporation to its stockholders upon complete or partial liquidation of the corporation in a transaction which qualifies for income tax treatment pursuant to ? 331, 332, 333 or 337 of the Internal Revenue Code as it exists at the time of liquidation;

8. To the surviving or new corporation, partnership or limited liability company upon merger or consolidation of two or more corporations, partnerships or limited liability companies, or in a reorganization within the meaning of ? 368 (a) (1) (C) and (F) of the Internal Revenue Code as amended;

9. To a subsidiary corporation from its parent corporation, or from a subsidiary corporation to a parent corporation, if the transaction qualifies for nonrecognition of gain or loss under the Internal Revenue Code as amended;

10. To a partnership or limited liability company, when the grantors are entitled to receive not less than 50 percent of the profits and surplus of such partnership or limited liability company; provided that the transfer to a limited liability company is not a precursor to a transfer of control of the assets of the company to avoid recordation taxes;

11. From a partnership or limited liability company, when the grantees are entitled to receive not less than 50 percent of the profits and surplus of such partnership or limited liability company; provided that the transfer from a limited liability company is not subsequent to a transfer of control of the assets of the company to avoid recordation taxes;

12. To trustees of a revocable inter vivos trust, when the grantors in the deed and the beneficiaries of the trust are the same persons, regardless of whether other beneficiaries may also be named in the trust instrument, when no consideration has passed between the grantor and the beneficiaries; and to the original beneficiaries of a trust from the trustees holding title under a deed in trust;

13. When the grantor is the personal representative of a decedent's estate or trustee under a will or inter vivos trust of which the decedent was the settlor, other than a security trust defined in ? 55-58.1, and the sole purpose of such transfer is to comply with a devise or bequest in the decedent's will or to transfer title to one or more beneficiaries after the death of the settlor in accordance with a dispositive provision in the trust instrument; or

14. When the grantor is an organization exempt from taxation under ? 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is organized and operated primarily to acquire land and purchase materials to erect or rehabilitate low-cost homes on such land, which homes are sold at cost to persons who otherwise would be unable to afford to buy a home through conventional means, located in a county with a population of not less than 28,500 and not more than 28,650 or a city with a population of not less than 66,000 and not more than 70,000.

B. The taxes imposed by ?? 58.1-803 and 58.1-804 shall not apply to any deed of trust or mortgage:

1. Given by an incorporated college or other incorporated institution of learning not conducted for profit;

2. Given by the trustee or trustees of a church or religious body or given by an incorporated church or religious body, or given by a corporation mentioned in ? 57-16.1;

3. Given by any nonstock corporation organized exclusively for the purpose of owning and/or operating a hospital or hospitals not for pecuniary profit;

4. Given by any local governmental entity or political subdivision of the Commonwealth to secure a debt payable to any other local governmental entity or political subdivision; or

5. Securing a loan made by an organization described in subdivision 14 of subsection A of this section.

C. The tax imposed by ? 58.1-802 and the fees imposed by ? 58.1-802.2 shall not apply to any:

1. Transaction described in subdivisions 6 through 13 of subsection A of this section;

2. Instrument or writing given to secure a debt;

3. Deed conveying real estate from an incorporated college or other incorporated institution of learning not conducted for profit;

4. Deed conveying real estate from the United States, the Commonwealth or any county, city, town, district or other political subdivision thereof;

5. Conveyance of real estate to the Commonwealth or any county, city, town, district or other political subdivision thereof, if such political unit is required by law to reimburse the parties taxable pursuant to ? 58.1-802 or subject to the fee under ? 58.1-802.2; or

6. Deed conveying real estate from the trustee or trustees of a church or religious body or from an incorporated church or religious body, or from a corporation mentioned in ? 57-16.1.

D. No recordation tax shall be required for the recordation of any deed of gift between a grantor or grantors and a grantee or grantees when no consideration has passed between the parties. Such deed shall state therein that it is a deed of gift.

E. The tax imposed by ? 58.1-807 shall not apply to any lease to the United States, the Commonwealth, or any county, city, town, district or other political subdivision of the Commonwealth.

F. The taxes and fees imposed by ?? 58.1-801, 58.1-802, 58.1-802.2, 58.1-807, 58.1-808 and 58.1-814 shall not apply to (i) any deed of gift conveying real estate or any interest therein to The Nature Conservancy or (ii) any lease of real property or any interest therein to The Nature Conservancy, where such deed of gift or lease of real estate is intended to be used exclusively for the purpose of preserving

G. The words "trustee" or "trustees," as used in subdivision 2 of subsection A, subdivision 2 of subsection B, and subdivision 6 of subsection C, include the trustees mentioned in ? 57-8 and the ecclesiastical officers mentioned in ? 57-16.

H. No recordation tax levied pursuant to this chapter shall be levied on the release of a contractual right, if the release is contained within a single deed that performs more than one function, and at least one of the other functions performed by the deed is subject to the recordation tax.

I. No recordation tax levied pursuant to this chapter shall be levied on a deed, lease, easement, release, or other document recorded in connection with a concession pursuant to the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995 (? 56-556 et seq.) or similar federal law.

CHAPTER 22.1.
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE USER FEE.

? 58.1-2291. Definitions.

"Distributor" means (i) any person engaged in the business of selling fuels in the Commonwealth who brings, or causes to be brought, into the Commonwealth from outside the Commonwealth any fuels for sale or any other person engaged in the business of selling fuels in the Commonwealth; (ii) any person who makes, manufactures, fabricates, processes, or stores fuels in the Commonwealth for sale in the Commonwealth; or (iii) any person engaged in the business of selling fuels outside the Commonwealth who ships or transports fuels to any person in the business of selling fuels in the Commonwealth.

"Fuel" means any fuel subject to tax under Chapter 22 (? 58.1-2200 et seq.).

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, company, business, trust, joint venture, or other legal entity.

"Retail dealer" means any person who sells fuels to a consumer or to any person for any purpose other than resale.

? 58.1-2292. Rules and regulations.

The Tax Commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations for the registration of distributors and dealers and the procedures for filing returns for the payment of the fee imposed pursuant to this chapter.

? 58.1-2293. Fee on fuel sold in the Commonwealth.

A. In addition to all other taxes and fees now imposed by law, there is hereby imposed a transportation infrastructure user fee upon every distributor who engages in the business of selling fuels at wholesale to retail dealers for retail sale in the Commonwealth.

The fee shall be imposed on the sales price charged by a distributor for fuels sold to a retail dealer for retail sale in the Commonwealth at a rate of one percent beginning the first day of the third month following six consecutive months in which the unemployment rate in the Commonwealth is equal to or lower than it was in January 2008. Such rate shall increase by one percent on each of the four consecutive anniversaries of the beginning date. Such fee shall be imposed at the time of the sale by the distributor to the retail dealer. The fee imposed by this chapter shall be paid by the distributor, but the distributor shall separately state the amount of the fee and add such fee to the sales price or charge. Thereafter, such fee shall be a debt from the retail dealer until paid and shall be recoverable at law in the same manner as other debts.

B. Every distributor collecting the fee imposed under this chapter shall file a monthly return no later than the twentieth of each month, on a form prescribed by the Department, covering the sale of fuels by such distributor during the preceding month for which a fee is imposed pursuant to subsection A.

For purposes of compensating a distributor for accounting for and remitting the fee imposed by this chapter, such distributor shall be allowed to deduct two percent of the fee otherwise due in submitting his return and paying the amount due by him if the amount is not delinquent at the time of payment.

? 58.1-2294. Exclusion from professional license tax.

The amount of the fee imposed by this chapter and collected by a distributor in any taxable year shall be excluded from gross receipts for purposes of any tax imposed under Chapter 37 (? 58.1-3700 et seq.).

? 58.1-2295. Disposition of fees.

All fees paid to the Commissioner pursuant to this chapter, after subtraction of the direct costs of administration by the Department, shall be allocated among special subfunds of the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund entitled "Special Fund Account of the Highway Construction District of . . . . . . ." according to the highway construction district in which the fuel is sold by the distributor to the retail dealer. The amounts deposited in the special funds shall be used solely for highway and road maintenance in the applicable highway construction district.

? 58.1-2296. Disclosure of information; penalties.

For purposes of administering the fee levied under this chapter, the Commissioner, upon written request, is authorized to provide to the finance officer of any city or county who is charged with administering the fee such information as may be necessary for the performance of official duties. Any person to whom information is provided pursuant to this section shall be subject to the prohibitions and penalties prescribed in ? 58.1-3.

2. That no provision of the first enactment shall become effective until the first day of the third month following six consecutive months in which the unemployment rate in the Commonwealth is equal to or lower than it was in January 2008.

3. That all additional net revenues collected by virtue of the provisions in ? 58.1-2293 in the first enactment shall be used solely for highway maintenance.

4. That the revenues generated by the provisions of this act shall not be used to calculate or reduce the share of local, federal, and state revenues otherwise available to participating jurisdictions. Further, such revenues and moneys shall not be included in any computation of, or formula for, a locality's ability to pay for public education, upon which appropriations of state revenues to local governments for public education are determined.

5. That this act shall be known as the "Comprehensive Transportation and Job Creation Act of 2010."

6. That should any portion of this act be held unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining portions of this act shall remain in effect.

HOUSE BILL NO. 971
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 13, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-428, and 2.2-431 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Secretary of the Commonwealth; lobbyist disclosure.
Patrons-- Rust, May and Watts

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-428, and 2.2-431 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.2-426. Lobbyist reporting; penalty.

A. Each lobbyist shall file a separate annual report of expenditures, including gifts, for each principal for whom he lobbies by July 1 for the preceding 12-month period complete through April 30.

B. Each principal who expends more than $500 to employ or compensate multiple lobbyists shall be responsible for filing a consolidated lobbyist report pursuant to this section in any case in which the lobbyists are each exempt under the provisions of subdivision 7 or 8 of § 2.2-420 from the reporting requirements of this section.

C. The report shall be on a form provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, which shall be substantially as follows and shall be accompanied by instructions provided by the Secretary.


                    LOBBYIST'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
 PART I:
 (1) PRINCIPAL:  ......................................................
 In Part I, item 2a, provide the name of the individual authorizing your
 employment as a lobbyist. The lobbyist filing this statement MAY NOT list his
 name in item 2a. THE INDIVIDUAL LISTED IN PART I, ITEM 2A, MUST SIGN THE
 PRINCIPAL'S STATEMENT.
 (2a) Name:  ..................................................
 (2b) Permanent Business Address:  ............................
 (2c) Business Telephone:  ....................................
 (3) Provide a list of executive and legislative actions (with as much
 specificity as possible) for which you lobbied and a description of activities
  conducted.
 ...............................................................
 ...............................................................
 ...............................................................
 (4) INCORPORATED FILINGS: If you are filing an incorporated disclosure
 statement, please complete the following:
 Individual filing financial information:  .........................
 Individuals to be included in the filing:  ........................
 ...................................................................
 (5) Please indicate which schedules will be attached to your disclosure
 statement:
 — ] Schedule A: Entertainment Expenses
 — ] Schedule B: Gifts
 — ] Schedule C: Other Expenses
 (6) EXPENDITURE TOTALS:
 a) ENTERTAINMENT  .................................... $  ..........
 b) GIFTS  ............................................ $  ..........
 c) OFFICE EXPENSES  .................................. $  ..........
 d) COMMUNICATIONS  ................................... $  ..........
 e) PERSONAL LIVING AND TRAVEL EXPENSES  .............. $  ..........
 f) COMPENSATION OF LOBBYISTS  ........................ $  ..........
 g) HONORARIA  ........................................ $  ..........
 h) REGISTRATION COSTS  ............................... $  ..........
 i) OTHER  ............................................ $  ..........
 TOTAL  ............................................... $  ..........
 PART II:
 (1a) NAME OF LOBBYIST:  .........................................
 (1b) Permanent Business Address:  ...............................
 (1c) Business Telephone:  .......................................
 (2) As a lobbyist, you are (check one)
 — ] EMPLOYED (on the payroll of the principal)
 — ] RETAINED (not on the payroll of the principal, however compensated)
 — ] NOT COMPENSATED (not compensated; expenses may be reimbursed)
 (3) List all lobbyists other than yourself who registered to represent your
 principal.
 .................................................................
 .................................................................
 .................................................................
 (4) If you selected "EMPLOYED" as your answer to Part II, item 2, provide your
  job title.
 .................................................................
 PLEASE NOTE: Some lobbyists are not individually compensated for lobbying
 activities. This may occur when several members of a firm represent a single
 principal. The principal, in turn, makes a single payment to the firm. If this
  describes your situation, do not answer Part II, items 5a and 5b. Instead,
 complete Part III, items 1 and 2.
 (5a) What was the DOLLAR AMOUNT OF YOUR COMPENSATION as a lobbyist? (If you
 have job responsibilities other than those involving lobbying, you may have to
  prorate to determine the part of your salary attributable to your lobbying
 activities.) Transfer your answer to this item to Part I, item 6f.
 (5b) Explain how you arrived at your answer to Part II, item 5a.
 ..................................................................
 ..................................................................
 ..................................................................
 PART III:
 PLEASE NOTE: If you answered Part II, items 5a and 5b, you WILL NOT complete
 this section.
 (1) List all members of your firm, organization, association, corporation, or
 other entity who furnished lobbying services to your principal.
 ..................................................................
 ..................................................................
 ..................................................................
 (2) Indicate the total amount paid to your firm, organization, association,
 corporation or other entity for services rendered. Transfer your answer to
 this item to Part I, item 6f ............
                           SCHEDULE A
                       ENTERTAINMENT EXPENSES
 PLEASE NOTE: Any single entertainment event included in the expense totals of
 the principal, with a value greater than $50, should be itemized below.
 Transfer any totals from this schedule to Part I, item 6a. (Please duplicate
 as needed.)
 Date and Location of Event:
 ...................................................................
 ...................................................................
 Description of Event:
 ...................................................................
 ...................................................................
 Total Number of Persons Attending:
 ............
 Names of Legislative and Executive Officials Attending: (List names only if
 the average value for each person attending the event was greater than $50.)
 ...................................................................
 ...................................................................
 ...................................................................
 ...................................................................
 Food  ................................................... $  ..........
 Beverages  .............................................. $  ..........
 Transportation of Legislative and Executive Officials ... $  .........
 Lodging of Legislative and Executive Officials  ......... $  ..........
 Performers, Speakers, Etc.  ............................. $  ..........
 Displays  ............................................... $  ..........
 Rentals  ................................................ $  ..........
 Service Personnel  ...................................... $  ..........
 Miscellaneous  .......................................... $  ..........
 TOTAL  .................................................. $  ..........
                                  SCHEDULE B
                                    GIFTS
 PLEASE NOTE: Any single gift reported in the expense totals of the principal,
 with a value greater than $50, should be itemized below. (Report meals,
 entertainment and travel under Schedule A.) Transfer any totals from this
 schedule to Part I, item 6b. (Please duplicate as needed.)
 Date       Description    Name of each           Cost of
 of gift:   of gift:       legislative or         individual
                           executive official     gift:
                           who is a recipient
                           of a gift:
 ........  ............  ................... $  ..........
 ........  ............  ................... $  ..........
 ........  ............  ................... $  ..........
 ........  ............  ................... $  ..........
 TOTAL COST TO PRINCIPAL  .................. $  ..........
                              SCHEDULE C
                             OTHER EXPENSES
 PLEASE NOTE: This section is provided for any lobbying-related expenses not
 covered in Part I, items 6a - 6h. An example of an expenditure to be listed on
  schedule C would be the rental of a bill box during the General Assembly
 session. Transfer the total from this schedule to Part I, item 6i. (Please
 duplicate as needed.)
 DATE OF EXPENSE DESCRIPTION OF EXPENSE AMOUNT
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 ....................  .................... $  ............
 TOTAL "OTHER" EXPENSES  .................... $  ............
 PART IV: STATEMENTS
 Both the lobbyist and principal officer must sign the disclosure statement,
 attesting to its completeness and accuracy. The following items are mandatory
 and if they are not properly completed, the entire filing will be rejected and
  returned to the lobbyist:
 (1) All signatures on the statement must be ORIGINAL in the format specified
 in the instructions provided by the Secretary that accompany this form. No
 stamps, or other reproductions of the individual's signature will be accepted.
 (2) An individual MAY NOT sign the disclosure statement as lobbyist and
 principal officer.
                        STATEMENT OF LOBBYIST
 I, the undersigned registered lobbyist, do state that the information
 furnished on this disclosure statement and on all accompanying attachments
 required to be made thereto is, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
 complete and accurate.
                                           ............
                                           Signature of lobbyist
                                           ............
                                           Date
                      STATEMENT OF PRINCIPAL
 I, the undersigned principal (or an authorized official thereof), do state
 that the information furnished on this disclosure statement and on all
 accompanying attachments required to be made thereto is, to the best of my
 knowledge and belief, complete and accurate.
                                          ............
                                          Signature of principal
                                          ............
                                          Date 
      1. Name of Principal   Principal:___________________________________________________________   2. Lobbyist Information   Last Name:_____________________________________ Suffix:______________   First Name:_____________________________ Middle Name:________________   Business Address:_______________________________ Suite/Apt: _________   City:____________________________ State:__________ Zip: _____________   Work Phone: (____)____________________ Email:________________________   3. Lobbyist’s Relationship to Principal   [       ] Lobbyist was Employed by Principal           Job Title:_________________________________________________           Total compensation for lobbying during period: $___________           Does this amount represent lobbyist’s entire salary during            period? Yes______No______           If answer is “No,” explain how you arrived at amount com-            pensated for lobbying:           ___________________________________________________________           ___________________________________________________________   [       ] Lobbyist was Retained by Principal           Name of Firm:______________________________________________           Total Compensation paid to firm for lobbying during period:            $ ____________           Does this amount represent total amount paid to firm            (retainers and fees) during period? Yes______No______           If answer is “No,” explain how you arrived at amount com-            pensated for lobbying:           ___________________________________________________________           ___________________________________________________________   [       ] Lobbyist was a Nonpaid Volunteer for the Principal   4. Incorporated Reporting   Is this lobbyist part of an incorporated filing that includes actions  taken on behalf of a client and the expenditure summary for more  than one lobbyist registered on behalf of the client?  Yes______No______   If “No,” proceed to Section 5. If “Yes,” provide the name of lobbyist of record for the incorporated filing:   Lobbyist of record for incorporated filing:   Last Name:_____________First Name:_____________Middle Name:__________   If you are the lobbyist of record, proceed to Section 5. If you are not the lobbyist of record, skip Sections 5 and 6 and pro-  ceed to Section 7.   5. Legislative and Executive Actions   Did lobbyist actually engage in lobbying on the principal’s behalf  during the time period covered? Yes______No______   If “No,” proceed to Section 6.   List the general matters of concern that you (and any other lobbyists  included in an incorporated filing) lobbied on behalf of the princi-  pal: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ List all legislative actions, including where appropriate the assigned House of Delegates or Senate bill numbers, that you and any other lobbyist included in an incorporated filing sought to influence the outcome of during the period of this report: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)   List all executive actions that you and any other lobbyist included in an incorporated filing sought to influence during disclosure period. "Sought to influence" shall mean any direct contact by any means to a member of the (i)legislature or legislative staff,(ii) executive branch or staff, or (iii) public, seeking support on, or opposition to, a particular issue. _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)   6. Financial Summary   Expenditure Totals a) Entertainment                $_______[      ]“Schedule A” Attached b) Gifts                        $_______[      ]“Schedule B” Attached c) Office Expenses              $________ d) Communications               $________ e) Personal Living/Travel       $________ f) Compensation of Lobbyists    $________ g) Registration Fees            $________ h) Other                        $_______[      ]“Schedule C” Attached   Total Expenditures:             $________   If the expenditure totals above represent an incorporated filing for more than one lobbyist, list the names of all other lobbyists includ- ed in these expenditure totals:   Name (Last Name, First Name)      Firm (if retained) or Title                                    (if employed)   ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ ____________________________      ___________________________________ (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)   7. Statement of Lobbyist   I, the undersigned registered lobbyist, do state that all the infor-  mation provided on this disclosure statement and all the required  attachments made thereto are, to the best of my knowledge and belief,  complete and accurate.   ____________________________      ___________________________________ Signature                         Date   8. Statement of Authorized Representative of Principal   I, the undersigned authorized representative of the principal, do  state that all the information provided on this disclosure statement  and all the required attachments made thereto are, to the best of my  knowledge and belief, complete and accurate.   Authorized Representative (Cannot be same person as lobbyist listed  above)   Last Name:____________________________________ Suffix: ______________   First Name:______________________ Middle Name:_______________________   Business Street Address:___________________________ Suite/Apt:_______   City:_________________________________ State:__________ Zip:_________   Work Phone: (____)___________________ Email:_________________________   ____________________________      ___________________________________ Signature                         Date   Schedule A Entertainment Expenses   This schedule shall be completed each time the lobbyist spends money  on behalf of the principal for any entertainment expense in which  (a) guests included executive or legislative officials and (b) the  total cost of the event was $50 or more.   If (a) and (b) above are true, the lobbyist shall complete this form  even if the principal’s share of event was less than $50.   Date of Event (MM/DD/YYYY): ____/____/_________ Description of Event:________________________________________________ Location of Event:___________________________________________________ City Where Event Held:__________________________________ State_______   Total Cost                Total Number of       Average Cost  of Event  divided by      Persons Attending  =  Per Person for Event   $__________   divided by  ______________      = $______________   Did principal pay for entire cost of the event? Yes______No______ If No, list the principal’s share of the total cost of the event:  $______________   Summary of Principal’s Share of Costs Food/Beverage:        $_________ Transportation:       $_________ Lodging:              $_________ Performers/Speakers:  $_________ Rentals/Displays:     $_________ Service/Tip:          $_________ Other:                $_________     Describe “Other”:_______________   Total:                $_________     (Include this amount in “enter-                                       tainment” expenses in expendi-                                       ture totals.)   (Include the total amount in "entertainment" expenses in expenditure totals. If the entertainment event was open to the public or unrelated to executive or legislative action and reportable executive or legislative officials represented less than 10 percent of the  attendees, then the total cost of the event need not be reported. However, the total cost of entertaining the reportable officials shall be reported.)   Number of Executive and Legislative Officials Attending:_____________   If average cost per person is $50 or more, provide names of executive  and administrative officials who attended:   Name (Last Name, First Name)                        Title   _____________________________________________       _________________ _____________________________________________       _________________ _____________________________________________       _________________ _____________________________________________       _________________ _____________________________________________       _________________ (Attach separate sheet if necessary.)   _____________________________________________________________________ Schedule B Gifts   This schedule shall be filled out each time the principal contributes  all or part of a gift to an executive or legislative official valued  at $50 or more.  (Complete this form even if the principal’s share  of gift was less than $50.)   Date of Gift:  ___/___/____     Total Cost of Gift: $________________ Did principal’s share account for the total value of the gift?  Yes______No______ If No, list the principal’s share of the cost of the total gift:  $ _____________ Description of Gift:  _______________________________________________   Recipient Last Name:_______________________________ Suffix:__________ First Name: ________________________ Middle Name:____________________   Recipient’s Title: __________________________________________________   Date of Gift:  ___/___/____     Total Cost of Gift: $________________ Did principal’s share account for the total value of the gift?   Yes______No______ If No, list the principal’s share of the cost of the total gift:  $ _____________ Description of Gift:_________________________________________________ Recipient Last Name: ______________________________ Suffix: _________ First Name: ______________________ Middle Name:______________________   Recipient’s Title: __________________________________________________   Date of Gift: __/___/_____    Total Cost of Gift: $__________________ Did principal’s share account for the total value of the gift?  Yes______No______ If No, list the principal’s share of the cost of the total gift:  $ _____________ Description of Gift: ________________________________________________ Recipient Last Name: _______________________________ Suffix: ________ First Name: ______________________ Middle Name:______________________ Recipient’s Title: __________________________________________________   Schedule C Other Expenses   This schedule shall be filled out for each time principal incurred  lobbying-related expense of $250 or more that is not covered by line  items “a” through “g” in the expenditure totals.   Date           Description                                 Amount ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________ ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________ ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________ ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________ ___/___/____   _______________________________________     $_________   Total (Include total amount to expenditure totals)         $_________  

D. A person who signs the disclosure statement knowing it to contain a material misstatement of fact shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony.

E. Each lobbyist shall send to each legislative and executive official who is required to be identified by name on Schedule A or B of the Lobbyist's Disclosure Form a copy of Schedule A or B or a summary of the information pertaining to that official. Copies or summaries shall be provided to the official by December 15 for the preceding 12-month period complete through November 30.

§ 2.2-428. Standards for automated preparation and transmittal of lobbyists' disclosure statements; database.

A. The In lieu of a hard copy, the Secretary shall accept any lobbyist's disclosure statement required by § 2.2-426 filed by computer or electronic means in accordance with the standards approved by the Secretary and using software meeting standards approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may provide software to filers without charge or at a reasonable cost. The Secretary may prescribe the method of execution and certification of electronically filed statements and the procedures for receiving statements in the office of the Secretary.

B. The Secretary shall establish a lobbyist disclosure database, available to the public, from required disclosure statements filed electronically and may enter into that database information from required disclosure statements filed by other methods.

§ 2.2-431. Penalties; filing of substituted statement.

A. The lobbyist shall sign the disclosure statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 attesting to its completeness and accuracy. The Secretary shall review each statement for completeness and accuracy and if a statement is not properly completed, the entire filing shall be rejected and returned to the lobbyist. The lobbyist shall submit a revised statement within 30 days from receipt of the returned statement.

B. Every lobbyist failing to file the statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 within the time prescribed therein shall be assessed a civil penalty of fifty dollars $50, and every individual failing to file the statement within ten 30 days after the time prescribed herein shall be assessed an additional civil penalty of fifty dollars $50 per day from the eleventh 31st day of such default until the statement is filed. The penalties shall be assessed and collected by the Secretary. The Attorney General shall assist the Secretary in collecting the penalties, upon request.

B.C. Every lobbyist's principal whose lobbyist fails to file the statement prescribed by § 2.2-426 shall be assessed a civil penalty of fifty dollars $50, and shall be assessed an additional civil penalty of fifty dollars $50 per day from the eleventh 31st day of such default until the statement is filed. The penalty shall be assessed and collected by the Secretary. The Attorney General shall assist the Secretary in collecting the penalties, upon request.

C.D. No individual who has failed to file the statement required by § 2.2-426 or who has failed to pay all penalties assessed pursuant to this section, shall register or act as a lobbyist as long as he remains in default.

D.E. Whenever any lobbyist is or will be in default under § 2.2-426, and the reasons for such default are or will be beyond his control, or the control of his principal, or both, the Secretary may suspend the assessment of any penalty otherwise assessable and accept a substituted statement, upon the submission of sworn proofs that shall satisfy him that the default has been beyond the control of the lobbyist or his principal, and that the substituted statement contains the most accurate and complete information available after the exercise of due diligence.

E.F. Penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be payable to the State Treasurer for deposit to the general fund.