GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 48

Short Title:      Legislator-Lobbyist Reform Act.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Stone, Faircloth, Howard, and Setzer (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to:	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

February 8, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to strengthen public confidence in government by EXTENDING the revolving door period.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 120C‑304 reads as rewritten:

"§ 120C‑304.  Restrictions.

(a)        No legislator or former legislator may register as a lobbyist under this Chapter:

(1)        While in office.

(2)        Before the later of the close of session as set forth in G.S. 120C‑100(a)(4)b.1 in which the legislator served or six months for a period of one year after leaving office.

(b)        No public servant or former public servant as defined in G.S. 138A‑3(30)a. may register as a lobbyist under this Chapter while in office or within six months for a period of one year after leaving office.

(c)        No public servant or former public servant as defined in G.S. 138A‑3(30)c. may register as a lobbyist under this Chapter within six months for a period of one year after separation from employment as a public servant. No other employee of any State agency may register as a lobbyist under this Chapter to lobby the State agency that previously employed the former employee within six months for a period of one year after voluntary separation or separation for cause from that State agency.

(d)       No individual registered as a lobbyist under this Chapter shall serve as a treasurer as defined in G.S. 163‑278.6(19) or an assistant campaign treasurer for a political committee for the election of a member of the General Assembly or a Constitutional officer of the State.

(e)        A lobbyist shall not be eligible for appointment by a State official to, or service on, any body created under the laws of this State that has regulatory authority over the activities of a person or governmental unit that the lobbyist currently represents or has represented within 120 days after the expiration of the lobbyist's registration representing that person or governmental unit. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit appointment by any unit of local government.

(f)        Any appointment or registration made in violation of this section shall be void."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2017.