Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 13-1564
 
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RE:
Request that the Board waive the $1,500 late assessed against Hamida Labi for her failure to timely file a lobbying registration report.
Facts:
Hamida Labi indicates that she is the program director for Students for Education Reform. Her job is to work with college students to advocate for educational equality. She indicates that her lobbying activity actually consists of assisting students to travel to the Capitol for a tour and to attend a BESE meeting. Further, Ms Labi indicates that the only time any students did anything related to lobbying was actually in May 1, 2013, when 2 students testified in support of a bill to lower suspension rates in schools. She did not provide any testimony.



Comments:
REPORTS: 2013 Registration Report
REPORT DUE: March 11, 2013

REPORT FILED: August 5, 2013

DAYS LATE: 147

FEE ASSESSED: $1,500

OTHER LATE FILINGS: 7. March, April, May, June, July, August and September 2013 Expenditure Reports ($3,500 in late fees for Expenditure Reports. Both thes expenditure report late fees and the registration fine were assessed on the same day 11/4/2013)



Law:
La. R.S. 24:53 provides that each lobbyist shall register with the board as soon as possible after employment as a lobbyist or after the first action requiring his registration as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first, and in any event not later than five days after employment as a lobbyist or not later than five days after the first action requiring his registration as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first. He shall electronically file with the board using forms provided by it, the following information:

La R.S. 24:58D(1) provides that any person required to register and who fails to timely register and any person who fails to timely file any report required by this Part shall be assessed, pursuant to R.S. 42:1157, a late fee of fifty dollars per day.
"Lobbying" is defined as any of the following: (a) Any direct act or communication with a legislator, the purpose of which is to aid in influencing the passage or defeat of any legislation. (b) Any preparation or research specifically intended, at the time it is performed, for use in or in support of any ongoing or planned direct act or communication with a legislator, the purpose of which is to aid in influencing the passage or defeat of any legislation. (c) Conducting or attending a meeting the purpose of which is to discuss direct communication with a legislator to aid in influencing the passage or defeat of any legislation.

"Lobbyist" means either of the following: (i) Any person who is employed or engaged for compensation to act in a representative capacity for the purpose of lobbying if lobbying constitutes one of the principal duties of such employment or engagement. (ii) Any person who acts in a representative capacity and makes an expenditure. (b) However, "lobbyist" shall not mean any person who does not make any direct act or have any direct communication with a legislator for the purpose of influencing the passage or defeat of any legislation.

Recommendations:
Decline to waive.

Assigned Attorney: Mike Dupree
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2013-1564: Waiver Request