HB630: Registered lobbyists; sexual harassment training.

HOUSE BILL NO. 630

Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 6, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-422 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 13.1 of Title 30 a section numbered 30-129.7, relating to registered lobbyists; sexual harassment training.
Patron-- Hurst

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2.2-422 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 13.1 of Title 30 a section numbered 30-129.7 as follows:

§ 2.2-422. Registration requirements.

A. A lobbyist shall register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to engaging in lobbying. A lobbyist who engages in lobbying entirely outside the capital city shall comply with this section by registering with the Secretary within fifteen 15 days after first engaging in lobbying. Registration shall be required annually and expire May 1 of each year.

B. The chief administrative officer of each local government shall register with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and file a statement pursuant to § 2.2-423 if any local government employees will act as lobbyists on its behalf. No registration fee shall be required. Each local government shall file a consolidated report in accordance with the reporting requirements of § 2.2-426 and shall maintain locally a copy of the report that is available for inspection and copying during regular business hours.

C. All registrations required by this section shall be filed electronically in accordance with the standards approved by the Council.

D. A registration shall not be complete until a certificate of course completion for the training required by § 30-129.7 is provided to the Council. The certificate shall name the lobbyist registering and be no more than two years old.

§ 30-129.7. Sexual harassment training required; registered lobbyists.

Every lobbyist who registers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth pursuant to § 2.2-422 shall once every two calendar years complete the sexual harassment training course provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates or the Office of the Clerk of the Senate as established in § 30-129.4.

2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on May 1, 2021.