Requires lobbyists to pay $50 biennial registration fee for each employer or organization that receives $50,000 or more in annual revenues.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that nearly forty states require legislative lobbyists to pay a registration fee. In Hawaii, although lobbyists are required to register with the state ethics commission, no registration fees are required. The legislature finds that requiring lobbyists to pay a biennial registration fee if the lobbyist appears or provides lobbying services for a business or an organization that receives more than $50,000 in annual revenues would assist in meeting the administrative costs incurred in enforcing the state lobbyists laws.

The purpose of this Act is to require certain lobbyists to pay a biennial registration fee of $50.

SECTION 2. Section 97-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the title and (a) to read as follows:

"§97-2 Registration of lobbyists, fees, requirements. (a) Every lobbyist shall file a registration form with the state ethics commission within five days of becoming a lobbyist. At the time of registration, a lobbyist shall pay a biennial registration fee of $50 for each employer of the lobbyist whose annual revenues are $50,000 or more."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.