Comprehensive Biennial Period Information

Filing Due Dates

Lobbying Application Instructions

Below is a comprehensive list of instructions to assist Filers when navigating the online Lobbying Application 'LA'.  

Please be advised of regular Lobbying Application Availability and System Maintenance. 

Normal maintenance windows for the Lobbying Application ("LA") are scheduled, at minimum, for every Wednesday and Friday evening between 7 and 9 p.m., meaning access will be unavailable. Please save and/or submit any filings you are working on outside of those time periods.

Filing Instructions

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    Coalition Filing Requirements

    Beginning with the 2021 Biennial Registration Period, the Commission’s regulations have been amended to simplify and clarify how Lobbying Activity by Coalitions should be disclosed. The following guidance will assist a Coalition in determining whether it is required to file Lobbying Reports as a Coalition, or if, instead, its Members are required to disclose their Coalition Contributions in their own Lobbying Reports. Applicable for filing years 2023 through 2021.  

    Revised 11/1/2022

     

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    How to Properly Disclose Lobbying Activities Information

    Please reference this document PRIOR to disclosing Lobbying Activities in the Lobbyist Statement of Registration, Lobbyist/Public Corporation Bi-Monthly Report, Disbursement of Public Monies Bi-Monthly Report, and the Client Semi-Annual Report.  Applicable for the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 Biennial.

    Revised 11/28/2022

     

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Registration, Lobbying Agreement Forms and Sample Letters

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    Designation Sample Letter

    This sample letter allows a chief administrative officer of an organization to designate another individual to make and sign statement(s) and/or report(s). A "Designation Letter" is not necessary for filers utilizing the online filing system.

    Please Note - The chief administrative officer may designate another to sign and file the reports, but this designation does not relieve the chief administrative officer of liability due to a failure to file, late filing or false filing of any report(s).

     

    Revised 10/31/2022

     

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Reportable Business Relationship

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    Reportable Business Relationship Questionnaire

    This is for use by a Lobbyist or Client Organization to send to its equity partners, officers, directors or High-Level Individuals, as applicable, to determine whether such persons have Reportable Business Relationships that must be disclosed by the Lobbyist or Client Organization. 

     

    Revised 11/4/2022

     

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Bi-Monthly Guidance and Lobby Application Instructions

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    How to Properly Disclose Lobbying Activities Information

    Please reference this document PRIOR to disclosing Lobbying Activities in the Lobbyist Statement of Registration, Lobbyist/Public Corporation Bi-Monthly Report, Disbursement of Public Monies Bi-Monthly Report, and the Client Semi-Annual Report.  Applicable for the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 Biennial.

    Revised 11/28/2022

     

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PDF Forms for Paper Filers

Terminations

The process of terminating in the new lobbying application is currently under review and is unavailable to the filer at this time. Therefore, in the event a filer needs to terminate before this feature becomes available or until further instruction is provided, please notify the Commission either by mail, to 540 Broadway, Albany NY 12207 or via email, to [email protected]. Notification of a termination must be submitted by an authorized person (CAO or DA) and must provide the information requested in these sample letters.

Please note - requirements for when a Termination notice needs to be sent have changed in the Comprehensive Lobbying Regulations. Please refer to the regulations, specifically Part 943.10, for more information.    

This termination procedure is temporary and will likely change for future filings once the lobbying application begins processing terminations. Please contact Commission staff should you have any questions regarding compliance so that we can advise you on the best form of action.

Commission staff will notify you as soon as your termination has been processed.

Client Semi-Annual Guidance and Lobby Application Instructions

Source of Funding Guidance and Lobbying Application Instructions

CSA and SoF PDF Forms and Excel Spreadsheet

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    Source of Funding Summary Statement Form

    This form may be used by Beneficial Clients that are Paper (PDF) Filers. All Beneficial Clients are required to complete this PDF form or submit this statement in the online Lobbying Application.  Completed PDF forms must be mailed to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying.  Beneficial Clients required to disclose information on Sources must complete and mail this form AND e-mail the pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet to [email protected].

    Mail completed forms to:

    NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

    540 Broadway

    Albany, New York 12207

     

    Revised 11/1/2022

     

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    BLANK Pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet for Source of Funding Disclosure

    Please use this pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet to disclose information on Sources for Source of Funding.  PAPER Filers who meet the Expenditure Threshold and are required to disclose Source of Funding information MUST utilize the pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet.  The completed, original spreadsheet must be emailed to Commission staff at [email protected]; and should include your contact information and the name of the Beneficial Client to avoid filing delays.

    ONLINE FILERS who meet the Expenditure Threshold and are required to disclose Source of Funding (“SoF”) information must either: utilize the Commission's online Lobbying Application (“LA”) to data-enter each Source individually; or complete and upload the pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet provided by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying. 

    Refer to the 'Instructions for Completing the Pre-formatted Excel Spreadsheet to Disclose Source of Funding Information' prior to completing the blank spreadsheet.

    Please note - this spreadsheet will not immediately appear on your screen; it will be automatically download and appear in your 'downloads' folder, or at the bottom of your screen. 

     

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