Registration and Reportable Business Relationship ('RBR') Information

Enhancements to the Lobbying Application ('LA')

Lobbyists and Public Corporations that want to terminate earlier than the end date specified in the lobbying agreement are now able to terminate the entire lobbying relationship within LA.  

Additionally, the Lobbying Application will automatically terminate (1) Registrations with lobbying agreements that reach the end date specified in the agreement, and (2) all Registrations that reach December 31^st of the second year of a biennial period – with no action required by the Lobbyist or Client.

                *NOTE: This feature applies to all filers, including PDF ‘paper filers’.

Overview of the Termination Functions in LA

Refer to the step-by-step instructions ‘‘How to submit a Registration Termination in the Online Lobbying Application (‘LA’)’  for information on the following functions.

Auto-Terms | Registrations that automatically terminate in LA

No action is required. Lobbyists and Public Corporations will receive system-generated email notifications when a Registration has auto-terminated. The auto-term functionality applies to both online and PDF ‘paper filers’.

Early Terms | Registration Terminations that occur prior to the original end date of the lobbying relationship.

If a Lobbyist/Public Corporation wants to terminate early and files online, please log into the Application to submit your termination within 30 days of the lobbying relationship ending.

Re-engagement | Reactivating a Registration that has been previously terminated

• Online filers are no longer required to submit requests to withdraw a termination for a Registration that has been previously terminated.  Online filers are able to easily amend a terminated Registration and upload a new lobbying agreement to resume lobbying activity.

Coming Soon - Client Terminations

Client Terminations have not yet been implemented in LA. Clients who end the lobbying relationship earlier than the original end date are required to notify the Commission within 30 days of the lobbying relationship ending using the process outlined below.

Procedure for Client Terminations and Paper Filers

Notification of an early termination must be submitted by an authorized person and provide the required information.  If the Preparer submits the early termination, the Responsible Party must be copied.Refer to the sample termination letters for more information.

An authorized person can be any of the following individuals:

• Responsible Party
• Preparer

Notifications should preferably be submitted via email to [email protected] or may be submitted by regular mail to:

NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

Attn: Registration Unit – Client Terminations

540 Broadway

Albany, NY 12207

The Lobbying Act requires the filing of a biennial Lobbyist Statement of Registration (“Registration”).  A Registration is a forward-looking document that captures the actual and anticipated Lobbying Activities, including the Focuses and Parties that you expect to lobby, during the biennial (two-year) period.  Registrations must be filed by a Lobbyist who is retained, employed, or designated to lobby, and exceeds or reasonably anticipates exceeding  the $5,000 threshold for combined Reportable Lobbying Compensation and Expenses at the State and/or Municipal Level in a calendar year.  Lobbyists who have exceeded or anticipate exceeding the threshold must file a Registration for every Client on whose behalf the Lobbyist lobbies, regardless of the Compensation or Expenses paid by each Client individually.

What follows is the information to help you get ready to file a Registration. 

How do I obtain forms to register and report?

Electronic Filing:  The Commission encourages all Filers to register and report online using the Lobbying Application ("LA") to register and submit filings.  Electronic filing has several advantages not available to paper filers, as described below. 

Advantages to filing online:

• 24-hour access.
• Information will prepopulate to certain sections of your filings for you.
• Registration and Client Semi-Annual filing fees can be securely paid by credit card.
• Filing deadlines are extended until midnight, saving a rushed trip to the JCOPE office.
• Start and finish your Filings at your convenience with the “save” function.
• Eliminate time-consuming entry of bill numbers by copying/pasting into your Filing.
• Automatically review Filings for missing information before you submit.
• Access to all your Filings and their processing statuses.

Paper/PDF Filing:  Filers seeking a paper/PDF form should contact the Lobbying Help Desk at (518) 474-3973 or [email protected] for assistance. 

Forms required to be filed and who is responsible for filing them:

Filers seeking a paper/PDF form should contact the Lobbying Help Desk at (518) 474-3973 or [email protected] for assistance.