SECOND REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ROSS.
5769H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 105, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to lobbyists, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 105, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 105.493, to read as follows:
105.493. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Fair Influence in Government Act".
2. No state agency, political subdivision, or private entity that receives any amount of funding appropriated by the state or any amount collected from any local tax authorized by statute shall use any public resources to pay the costs of employing or contracting for the services of any person who lobbies on behalf of the state agency, political subdivision, or private entity receiving state appropriations in an attempt to influence the passage or defeat of any legislative measure.
3. No state agency or political subdivision shall use any public resources to pay any membership dues on behalf of the agency or political subdivision or any officer or employee of the agency or political subdivision to any organization or association if such dues directly or indirectly pay all or part of the salary of any person required to register as a lobbyist under this chapter in an attempt to influence the passage or defeat of any matter pending before a legislative committee in either chamber of the general assembly or before the general assembly.
4. Any person who accepts public funds as compensation for lobbying in violation of this section may be prohibited from registering as a legislative lobbyist for a period not to exceed two years.
5. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any elected governing body from meeting with one or more members of the general assembly during an open meeting of the elected governing body, nor shall this section be construed to limit, preclude, or deprive any state agency or individual, including public officers and employees, from exercising the agency's individual right to communicate with public officials, nor shall this section be construed to prohibit the hiring of a lobbyist for the purpose of monitoring activities of the general assembly or providing information, including testimony, solely for informational purposes.
6. Any violation of this section by any state agency, political subdivision, or private entity that receives state funds shall result in a fine of not less than one thousand dollars but not more than five thousand dollars. The director or similar chief executive of such state agency, political subdivision, or private entity shall be personally liable for such fine.
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