(a) Except as provided by Section 12A-31, a person must register with the city secretary if the person:
(1) receives compensation of $200 or more in a calendar quarter for lobbying;
(2) receives reimbursement of $200 or more in a calendar quarter for lobbying; or
(3) lobbies as the agent or employee of a person who:
(A) receives compensation of $200 or more in a calendar quarter for lobbying; or
(B) receives reimbursement of $200 or more in a calendar quarter for lobbying.
(b) A lobbying firm that is not required to register under Subsection (a) of this section may register as a lobbyist with the city secretary if the lobbying firm has two or more employees who are required to register under Subsection (a). A lobbying firm that chooses to register all of its employees as lobbyists under this subsection, instead of having them register individually, will be deemed a "registrant" and "a person required to register" for all purposes of this article and will be subject to all requirements, procedures, and penalties applicable to a "registrant" and "person required to register," as those terms are used in this article.
(c) An attorney who is representing a client must register as a lobbyist if the attorney meets the compensation or reimbursement standards of Subsection (a). A law firm employing two or more attorneys required to register as lobbyists under this section may register as a lobbying firm instead of registering the individual attorneys.
(d) A person who is representing an association of city employees or an association of former city employees must register as a lobbyist if the person meets the compensation or reimbursement standards of Subsection (a) or if the person is representing the association on a pro bono basis. (Ord. Nos. 27748; 27834; 30391; 32072; 32472)