Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 19-458
 
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RE:
Request to waive the $150 late fee assessed for the late filing of a December 2018 Expenditure Report and an untimely request for reconsideration of the Board's decision to suspend all but $1,000 late fee of a $1,500 based on future compliance assessed against T. Bradley Keith for the late filing of a Supplemental Registration report.
Facts:


$150 Late Fee:

Mr. Keith states that he filed the December 2018 lobbying report late because he was caring for his mother-in-law at his home until her death on December 20, 2018.

$1,000 RE-ASSESSED - Suspended Late Fee:

Mr. Keith stated that he didn't expect a letter from the Board of Ethics saying because he filed his December 2018 expenditure report 3 days late, he would now be liable for not just the $150, but also for the $1,000 fine that was suspended based on future compliance in October 2017. He also states that the fines considered in the 2017-888 waiver request arose from a clerical error on his part when he registered online.

Comments:


REPORT: December 2018 Expenditure Report


ER REPORT DUE: January 25, 2019

REPORT FILED: January 28, 2019

DAYS LATE: 3 DAYS

FEE ASSESSED: $150

ACTIVITY REPORTED: $0.00

LOBBYING SINCE: 2017

REGISTERED BRANCHES: Legislative


OTHER LATE FILINGS:

1) March 2019 - $50 Paid

2) July 2017 -$150- Paid

3) April 2017 - $550 waived 2017-888

4) March 2017 $1500 - waived 2017-888

5)February 2017 - $1500 - waived 2017-888
6) SUPP Reg - $1500 - waived $500, and suspended the remaining $1,000 based on future compliance - 2017-888.

2017-888 - Waiver request considered at the Board's October 20, 2017 meeting, at which Mr. Keith appeared. During the course of the meeting, Board members asked if Mr. Keith understood that he did not owe anything that day, but if in the future he is late, he will owe the new fine, plus the $1,000 that was suspended. Mr. Keith answered in the affirmative. After Mr. Keith filed the December 2018 expenditure report late, he was sent a letter that the suspended $1,000 was immediately due and owing.

Law:
La R.S. 24:55 provides that registered lobbyists shall file a monthly expenditure report by the 25th day of the subsequent month.


La. R.S. 24:53A provides that "[e]ach lobbyist shall register with the ethics 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."

Recommendations:


1. Decline to waive the $150 late fee for the December 2018 Expenditure Report.

2. Decline to reconsider its decision to suspend the $1,000 late fee based on future compliance.

Assigned Attorney: Kathleen Allen
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2019-458 Waiver Request