Section 13.64. Lobbying registry.

 

(1)  Every principal who makes expenditures or incurs obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $500 in a calendar year for the purpose of engaging in lobbying which is not exempt under s. 13.621 shall, within 10 days after exceeding $500, cause to be filed with the commission a registration statement specifying the principal's name, business address, the general areas of legislative and administrative action which the principal is attempting to influence, the names of any agencies in which the principal seeks to influence administrative action, and information sufficient to identify the nature and interest of the principal. The statement shall be signed, under the penalty for making false statements under s. 13.69 (6m) , by an individual identified under par. (e) who is authorized to represent the principal. The statement shall include:

(a) If the principal is an individual, the name and address of the individual's employer, if any, or the individual's principal place of business if self-employed, a description of the business activity in which the individual or the individual's employer is engaged and, except as authorized in sub. (2m) , the individual's social security number.

(b) If the principal is a business entity, a description of the business activity in which the principal is engaged and the name of its chief executive officer, or in the case of a partnership or limited liability company the names of the partners or members.

(c) If the principal is an industry, trade or professional association, a description of the industry, trade or profession which it represents including a specific description of any segment or portion of the industry, trade or profession which the association exclusively or primarily represents and the name of the chief executive officer and the approximate number of its members.

(d) If the principal is not an individual, business entity or industry, trade or professional association, a statement of the principal's nature and purposes, including a description of any industry, trade, profession or other group with a common interest which the principal primarily represents or from which its membership or financial support is primarily derived and the approximate number of its members.

(e) The name and position or relationship to the principal of any designee who is authorized to sign other documents required under this section or s. 13.65 , 13.67 or 13.68 (1) .

(2)  The registration shall expire on December 31 of each even-numbered year. Except as provided in sub. (2m) , the commission shall refuse to accept a registration statement filed by an individual who does not provide his or her social security number. The commission shall refuse to accept a registration statement filed by an individual or shall suspend any existing registration of an individual for failure of the individual or registrant to pay court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse or failure of the individual or registrant to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceeding, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857 . If all lobbying by or on behalf of the principal which is not exempt under s. 13.621 ceases, the commission shall terminate the principal's registration and any authorizations under s. 13.65 as of the day after the principal files a statement of cessation and expense statements under s. 13.68 for the period covering all dates on which the principal was registered. Refusal to accept a registration statement or suspension of an existing registration pursuant to a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.857 is not subject to review under ch. 227 .

(2m)  If an individual who applies for registration under this section does not have a social security number, the individual, as a condition of obtaining registration, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the commission that the individual does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A registration accepted in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subsection is invalid.

(3)  Each principal registered under this section shall, before the principal or a lobbyist for the principal attempts to influence legislative or administrative action in any general area or agency not previously filed with the commission, provide written notice to the commission of the general area or agency in which the principal or a lobbyist for the principal will attempt to influence legislative or administrative action and in relation to which a lobbyist is employed.

1977 c. 278 ; 1989 a. 338 ; 1993 a. 112 ; 1997 a. 186 , 191 ; 1999 a. 9 ; 2007 a. 20 ; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10) .