Lobbying Ordinance Enforcement
Purpose
To adopt an action plan for oversight and enforcement of the County’s Lobbying Ordinance.
Authority
An Ordinance codifying, combining and amending ordinance no. 88-11, as amended by ordinances 88-22, 90-21, 91-15, 93-8 and 96-8 relating to lobbying activities in Hillsborough County; providing for registration of lobbyists, providing certain exceptions; providing for the filing of an annual statement of lobbying expenditures; providing for maintaining registrations and expenditure statements; providing a penalty, providing for severability; providing an effective date of January 1, 2004.
Background
The Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on October 1, 2003 and adopted an ordinance relating to lobbying activities in Hillsborough County. This public hearing followed two BOCC Workshops in which the Board directed the County Administrator to prepare an action plan to implement enhanced enforcement of the current lobbying ordinance.
Policy
The Clerk of Circuit Court, BOCC Records Department, shall be responsible for:
- Retaining the lobbyist registration data and will insure that the information is placed on the County Online Information Network (COIN) and the Clerk’s web site;
- Providing a web site opportunity to inform the Lobbyist to notify the Clerk of meetings occurring outside the County Center;
- Preparing a quarterly report to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the lobbyist registration data;
- Notifying the Deputy County Administrator of any department not providing the required reports.
- Notifying the County Attorney’s Office of any incomplete registrations.
The County Attorney’s Office shall be responsible for sending a letter to lobbyists who have incomplete registrations, requesting the missing information, and notifying the lobbyists that failure to provide complete information is a violation of the Ordinance.
The County Administrator shall be responsible for implementing an enforcement plan for departments under the County Administrator via Administrative Directive.
(Reference: Administrative Directive #AD-20)