(A) Beginning 180 days after the effective date of this section, each lobbyist and each employer shall file with the Ethics Commission a statement of spending as provided in subsections (B), (C), and (D) of this section when filing an updated lobbying statement as required by § 21.41(C). A lobbyist shall file a separate statement of spending for each employer engaging him or her.
(B) If an employer or any lobbyist whom the employer engaged made expenditures, either separately or in combination with each other, either directly or indirectly, on behalf of any particular Metro Officer or candidate seeking to become an elected Metro Officer or his or her immediate family or members of his or her staff, for food, beverages, or the costs of admittance or attendance, lodging, or other expenses related to any events, the employer or lobbyist shall state the following:
(1) The name of the Metro Officer, candidate, or member of his or her immediate family or his or her staff on whose behalf the expenditures were made;
(2) The total amount of the expenditures made;
(3) A description of the expenditures made;
(4) The date and specific location of the event for which the expenditures were made; and
(5) For a representative of an organized association, coalition, or public interest entity, the source of the entity or association's funds spent on the expenditures.
(C) In addition to the information required by subsection (B) of this section, a statement filed by a lobbyist shall show:
(1) The total amount of expenditures made by the lobbyist during the reporting period covered by the statement, if the expenditures are not reimbursed by the employer; and
(2) Spending by the lobbyist for informational, educational, or promotional items or activities, and other expenses directly associated with the lobbyist's lobbying activities during the reporting period, if the expenditures were not reimbursed by the employer.
(D) (1) In addition to the information required by subsection (B) of this section, a statement of spending filed by an employer shall list:
(a) The total amount of expenditures made by the employer filing the statement during the period covered by the statement;
(b) A complete and itemized account of all amounts expended for receptions or other events, including the date and specific location of the event and the name of the Metro Officer, candidate, immediate family, or staff invited to the event, when such amounts were not reported under subsection (B);
(c) A complete and itemized account of all other amounts expended for lobbying, including reimbursements paid to any lobbyist;
(d) 1. For those lobbyists who are not employees of the reporting employer, the compensation earned by each lobbyist, prorated to reflect the time the lobbyist was engaged in lobbying during the period covered by the statement; and
(e) The cost of advertising which supports or opposes executive or legislative action, if the cost is paid by an employer or a person or organization affiliated with an employer. As used in this subparagraph, "advertising" means statements disseminated to the public either in print, by radio or television broadcast, or by any other electronic means, including Internet or telephonic communications, and may include direct or bulk mailings of printed materials.
(2) No employer is required to show any spending on a statement filed under this subsection if the spending is reported by a lobbyist engaged by the employer.
(E) (1) Any statement required to be filed under this section shall be filed at the times specified in § 21.41(C). Each statement shall cover spending during the period that ended on the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the statement is required to be filed.
(2) If it is impractical or impossible for a lobbyist or employer to determine exact dollar amounts or values reported under this section, reporting of good faith estimates, based upon reasonable accounting procedures, constitutes compliance with this subsection.
(F) All lobbyists and employers shall retain receipts or maintain records for all spending that is required to be reported pursuant to this section. These receipts or records shall be maintained for a period ending on the thirty-first day of December of the second calendar year after the year in which the spending occurred.
(Lou. Metro Ord. No. 168, approved 11-16-2022)