Board of Ethics client. The fees can be waived, as explained below. City of Chicago All lobbyists’ filings can be made and Rahm Emanuel, Mayor viewed online at: William F. Conlon, Chair LOBBYING CHICAGO GOVERNMENT: A PLAIN LANGUAGE GUIDE FOR EXEMPTIONS FOR SOME NON-PROFITS AND AFFILIATED REPRESENTATIVES. The law exempts some persons from having to register as lobbyists, or from having to pay the fees. INTRODUCTION. Chicago’s lobbying law is one of the broadest in the Registration Exemptions. Among United States. Most private sector persons who needn’t register as representatives who meet with or lobbyists are employees, officers or contact City employees or officials to directors of a “one-tiered” business” are likely lobbying. “talk entity (if acting on behalf of the It’s perfectly acceptable to be a entity to influence any City legislative lobbyist. As far as the Board of Ethics or administrative action). This means is concerned, there is no stigma that directors, staff members or attached to lobbying. It’s a right officers of certain non-profits need not guaranteed by the Constitution. But register as lobbyists, even if they it’s a regulated activity. engage in activity that would otherwise require them to register With a few exceptions, City law (such as meeting with aldermen or requires all persons who lobby to senior staff from the Department of register with the Board of Ethics every Planning & Development). year and disclose to the public who What is a one-tiered non-profit? It’s they are, who their clients are, and any non-profit that doesn’t have or which City departments they intend to represent for-profit members. lobby. It also requires them to report Churches, synagogues, mosques, every three months on their lobbying homeowners’ associations, charitable activity, including which matters they or educational institutions, non-profit lobbied on, their compensation from hospitals, social service organizations, and expenditures for each client, their etc. typically are one-tiered lobbyists. political contributions, which City personnel they gave gifts to, and what However, the exemption apply those gifts were. to persons paid to influence City The City imposes a $350 per year fee legislative or administrative action on on all lobbyists at the time they behalf of non-profit entities that register (and annually thereafter), and themselves represent or include a $75 per client the first listed
Board of Ethics City of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, Mayor William F. Conlon, Chair LOBBYING CHICAGO GOVERNMENT: A PLAIN LANGUAGE GUIDE FOR NON-PROFITS INTRODUCTION. Chicago’s lobbying law is one of the broadest in the United States. Most private sector representatives who meet with or contact City employees or officials to “talk business” are likely lobbying. It’s perfectly acceptable to be a lobbyist. As far as the Board of Ethics is concerned, there is no stigma attached to lobbying. It’s a right guaranteed by the Constitution. But it’s a regulated activity. With a few exceptions, City law requires all persons who lobby to register with the Board of Ethics every year and disclose to the public who they are, who their clients are, and which City departments they intend to lobby. It also requires them to report every three months on their lobbying activity, including which matters they lobbied on, their compensation from and expenditures for each client, their political contributions, which City personnel they gave gifts to, and what those gifts were. The City imposes a $350 per year fee on all lobbyists at the time they register (and annually thereafter), and a $75 per client the first listed client. The fees can be waived, as explained below. All lobbyists’ filings can be made and viewed online at: EXEMPTIONS FOR SOME AND AFFILIATED REPRESENTATIVES. The law exempts some persons from having to register as lobbyists, or from having to pay the fees. Registration Exemptions. Among persons who needn’t register as lobbyists are employees, officers or directors of a “one-tiered” entity (if acting on behalf of the entity to influence any City legislative or administrative action). This means that directors, staff members or officers of certain non-profits need not register as lobbyists, even if they engage in activity that would otherwise require them to register (such as meeting with aldermen or senior staff from the Department of Planning & Development). What is a one-tiered non-profit? It’s any non-profit that doesn’t have or represent for-profit members. Churches, synagogues, mosques, homeowners’ associations, charitable or educational institutions, non-profit hospitals, social service organizations, etc. typically are one-tiered lobbyists. However, the exemption apply to persons paid to influence City legislative or administrative action on behalf of non-profit entities that themselves represent or include
NONPROFIT_LOBBYING_GUIDE.docx