Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 19A - STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
Subtitle 07 - LOBBYING
Chapter 19A.07.01 - General
Section 19A.07.01.01 - Exemptions

Universal Citation: MD Code Reg 19A.07.01.01

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, March 22, 2024

A. The following activities are exempt from regulation under this chapter:

(1) Appearances as part of the official duties of an elected or appointed official or employee of the State, a political subdivision of the State, or the United States, to the extent that the appearance is not on behalf of another entity;

(2) Actions of a member of the news media, to the extent the actions are in the ordinary course of gathering and disseminating news or making editorial comment to the general public;

(3) Representation of a bona fide religious organization to the extent the representation is for the purpose of protecting the right of its members to practice the doctrine of the organization;

(4) Appearances as part of the official duties of an officer, director, member, or employee of an association engaged exclusively in representing counties or municipal corporations, to the extent that the appearance is not on behalf of another entity;

(5) Actions as part of the official duties of a trustee, an administrator, or a faculty member of a nonprofit independent college or university in the State, if the official duties of the individual do not consist primarily of attempting to influence legislative action or executive action; and

(6) Activities by attorneys who are not employed by an organized bar as regulated lobbyists, in the course of serving as an officer, committee or section chair, or representative designated to represent a section, committee, or an organized bar at large, including:
(a) Testimony before either the Senate or the House of Delegates;

(b) Testimony before a committee or subcommittee of the Senate or the House of Delegates;

(c) Communication with an official or employee of the Legislative Branch or Executive Branch in the presence of that official or employee; or

(d) Communication with an official or employee of the Legislative Branch or Executive Branch not in the presence of that official or employee.

B. The following activities are exempt from regulation under this chapter if the person engages in no other acts for an employer during the reporting period that require registration:

(1) Appearances before a legislative committee at the specific request of a regulated lobbyist, if the witness notifies the committee that the witness is testifying at the request of the regulated lobbyist;

(2) Appearances before an executive unit at the specific request of a regulated lobbyist, if the witness notifies the executive unit that the witness is testifying at the request of the regulated lobbyist;

(3) An elementary, secondary, or postsecondary school student or student organization that communicates as part of a course or student activity based solely on the expense threshold in Regulation .02A(1) of this chapter;

(4) Professional services in drafting bills or in advising clients on the construction or effect of proposed or pending legislation;

(5) Appearances before the entire General Assembly, or any committee or subcommittee of the General Assembly, at the specific request of the body involved; or

(6) Appearances before an executive unit at the specific request of the executive unit involved.

C. A person that compensates one or more regulated lobbyists for the purpose of lobbying lobbyist or lobbyists, is exempt from the registration and reporting requirements of this chapter if the person:

(1) Engages in no other act that requires registration; and

(2) Reasonably believes that all expenditures requiring registration will be reported by the regulated lobbyist or lobbyists.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maryland may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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