2010 Holiday Gift Guidance for Lobbyists

How do lobbyists or their clients report holiday gifts?

•  Any gift given to a legislator or staff member by a lobbyist or their client will be reported on the corresponding Activity & Expenditure Report for the September – December 2010 reporting period if the gift has a fair market value of more than $25.00
•  If a legislator or staff member accepted a gift or gifts from a lobbyist aggregated over the calendar year that exceeded $25.00 the legislator or staff member will disclose the lobbyist on their Financial Disclosure Statement as the source of a gift.
•  Receptions or Holiday parties where all members of the General Assembly or all Members of a particular Chamber are invited would be reported as any All-Invited event would.

 Issues to Keep in Mind when Giving Gifts

•  Cookie, Candy or Popcorn tins, fruit baskets and the like that are given to a legislator’s office or caucus are not reportable as gifts from the lobbyist or their client as no individual is named as a particular recipient. 
• A legislator or staff member may not accept more than $75.00 aggregated per calendar year, from a lobbyist.
• A legislator or staff member designated as a financial disclosure statement filer will be required to list the source of the gift on their financial disclosure statement if it has a fair market value of greater than $75.00, or greater than $25.00 if the source of the gift is a lobbyist.
• If the lobbyist or their client is unable to attain the actual value of the gift, the fair market value or another reasonable accounting method are appropriate to determine the value of the gift for disclosure purposes.

 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of the Legislative Inspector General at 614-728-5100.