2005-11-09 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular mc

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KI: I do have one question, and I don't know, maybe Pat or Bobby Jean can answer. And the question is, why would attorneys be exempted? If they're doing basically the same job CHAIR: -- because they're special, I guess- KI: - -I mean, if they're all lobbyists for somebody. BLT: You'll notice that in italics in the paper that I , I did not that under state law, that attorneys, if they were lobbying, are required to register. The County Code has not been amended, and so that would be something that, if you think the Code should be amended, you could make a proposal and send it up to the County Council to make it consistent with state law, which requires that when they are lobbying, attorneys are required —there is some language that on certain things, when they're basically acting in an attorney capacity, like before an adjudicatory board, that maybe they don't. But on other issues, when it's trying to get something passed through the Council or Planning Commission, or in this case the State Legislature, they have file. CHAIR: Okay, so do we have a sense from this Board that attorneys should be included within the scope of logic, as well, on what are clearly logic matters, and is there a motion that we should render an opinion on that? PKO: No, I don't think you should render an opinion. It would be suggested legislative change, but you know, you should take it up separate from considering this proceeding. CHAIR: Okay, but you bring it back up, okay. FUKE: I still have some more questions. Maybe I can just kind of go over CHAIR: - -but that brings up an area, let me just make a note of that, FUKE: Maybe I can just kind of like go over all of those, and you can make your determination accordingly. CHAIR: Okay. FUKE: And it says if you spent more than $275 in any reporting lobbying period, or you spend more than five hours in any month, I would assume that month is the calendar month —it's a calendar month, right? Okay. So, if you do not spend more than $275 or if you do not have more than five hours in any month, then do you still need to report—do you still need to have such a You don't need to file it CHAIR: No, it doesn't say that, no. 14