Los Angeles Municipal Code Art. 8 Municipal Lobbying

(Repealed and Re-added by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

Section 48.01 Title and Findings. 48.02 Definitions. 48.03 Exemptions. 48.04 Prohibitions. 48.05 Record-keeping Responsibilities. 48.06 Filing Methods. 48.07 Registration. 48.08 Disclosure Reports. 48.08.5 Copies of Solicitations. 48.08.6 Lobbying Disclosure – Political Contributions. 48.08.7 Lobbying Disclosure – Fundraising Activity. 48.08.8 Lobbying Disclosure – Written Communications to Neighborhood Councils. 48.09 Compliance Measures and Enforcement. 48.10 Ethics Commission Reports. 48.11 Severability.

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

A. Title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the Los Angeles Municipal Lobbying Ordinance.

B. Findings. The following findings are adopted in conjunction with the enactment of this article:

1. City government functions to serve the needs of all citizens.

2. The citizens of the City of Los Angeles have a right to know the identity of interests which attempt to influence decisions of City government, as well as the means employed by those interests.

3. All persons engaged in compensated lobbying activities aimed at influencing decisions by City government must, when so engaged, be subject to the same regulations, restrictions and requirements, regardless
of their background, training or other professional qualifications or license.

4. Complete public disclosure of the full range of activities by and financing of lobbyists and those who employ their services is essential to the maintenance of citizen confidence in the integrity of local
government.

5. It is in the public interest to ensure that lobbyists do not misrepresent facts, their positions, or attempt to deceive officials through false communications, do not place City officials under personal obligation to
themselves or their clients, and do not represent that they can control the actions of City officials.

6. It is in the public interest to adopt these amendments to the City’s regulations of lobbyists to ensure adequate and effective disclosure of information about efforts to lobby City government.

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

The following terms used in this article shall have the meanings set forth below. Other terms used in this article shall have the meanings set forth in the California Political Reform Act of 1974, as amended, and in the regulations of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, as amended, if defined therein.

“Activity expense” means any payment, including any gift, made to or directly benefiting any City official or member of their immediate family, made by a lobbyist, lobbying firm, or lobbyist employer.

“Administrative proceeding” (Deleted by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

“Agency” means the City of Los Angeles or any department, bureau, office, board, commission, other agency of the City, or any other government agency, required to adopt a conflict of interest code subject to City Council approval, and includes the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency and the Los Angeles City Housing Authority.

“At the behest” means under the control of, at the direction of, in cooperation, consultation, coordination, or concert with, at the request or suggestion of, or with the express prior consent of any elective City officer or candidate for elective City office. A donation to a religious, charitable, or other nonprofit organization is not made at the behest of an elective City officer or candidate if the donation is solicited through a newspaper publication, through radio, television, or other mass media, or through a suggestion made to the entire audience at a public gathering. A donation to a religious, charitable, or other nonprofit organization is not made at the behest of an elective City officer or candidate solely because the name of the officer or candidate is listed with other names on written materials used to request donations or the officer or candidate makes a speech to the entire audience or is honored and given an award at an event sponsored by the organization. (Amended by Ord. No. 178,356, Eff. 3/12/07.)

“Attempting to influence” means promoting, supporting, opposing or seeking to modify or delay any action on municipal legislation by any means, including but not limited to providing or using persuasion, information, statistics, analyses or studies. A person attempts to influence municipal legislation when the person engages in lobbying activities for the purpose of influencing a decision. (Amended by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

“City official” means any elective or appointed City officer, member, employee or consultant (who qualifies as a public official within the meaning of the Political Reform Act) of any agency, who, as part of their official duties, participates in the consideration of any municipal legislation other than in a purely clerical, secretarial or ministerial capacity. (Amended by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Client” means both (1) the person who compensates a lobbyist or lobbying firm for the purpose of attempting to influence municipal legislation and (2) the person on whose behalf a lobbyist or lobbying firm attempts to influence such municipal legislation, even if the lobbyist or lobbying firm is compensated by another person for such representation. However, if a lobbyist or lobbying firm represents a membership organization and individual members of that organization, an individual member is not a client solely because the member is individually represented by the lobbyist or lobbying firm unless the member makes a payment for such representation in addition to usual membership fees.

“Client, Administrative” (Deleted by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

“Compensated Services” means services for which compensation was paid during a reporting period or for which the lobbyist or lobbying firm became entitled to compensation during that period.

“Controlled committee” means any committee controlled by an elective City officer or candidate for any elective City office, including any campaign, officeholder, legal defense fund, or ballot measure committee. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Direct communication” means appearing as a witness before, talking to (either by telephone or in person), corresponding with, or answering questions or inquiries from, any City official or employee, either personally or through an agent who acts under one’s direct supervision, control or direction. (Added by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

“Donation” means a payment for which full and adequate consideration is not received. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Elective City officer” means the Mayor, City Attorney, Controller and Member of the City Council. (Amended by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Elective Officer” means any person who is a City Council Member, City Attorney, Controller or Mayor, whether appointed or elected. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Fundraiser” means an individual who receives compensation to engage in fundraising activity as defined in this section. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Fundraising activity” means soliciting a contribution or hosting or sponsoring a fundraising event or hiring a fundraiser or contractor to conduct any event designed primarily for political fundraising at which contributions for an elective City officer, candidate for elective City office, or any of their controlled committees are solicited, delivered or made. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Host or sponsor” means to provide the use of a home or business to hold a political fundraising event without charging market value for the use of that location; to ask more than 25 persons to attend the event; to pay for at least a majority of the costs of the event; or to provide the candidate, campaign, committee and/or fundraiser more than 25 names to be used for invitations to the event. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Lobbying activities” includes the following and similar compensated conduct when that conduct is related to a direct communication to influence any municipal legislation:

(1) engaging in, either personally or through an agent, written or oral direct communication with a City official;

(2) drafting ordinances, resolutions or regulations;

(3) providing advice or recommending strategy to a client or others;

(4) research, investigation and information gathering;

(5) seeking to influence the position of a third party on municipal legislation or an issue related to municipal legislation by any means, including but not limited to engaging in community, public or press relations activities; and

(6) attending or monitoring City meetings, hearings or other events.

(Added by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

“Lobbying entity” means a lobbyist, lobbying firm or lobbyist employer, as defined in this article. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

“Lobbying firm” means any entity, including an individual lobbyist, which receives or becomes entitled to receive $1,000 or more in monetary or in-kind compensation for engaging in lobbying activities (either personally or through its agents) during any consecutive three-month period, for the purpose of attempting to influence municipal legislation on behalf of any other person, provided any partner, owner, shareholder, officer or employee of the entity qualifies as a lobbyist. Compensation does not include reimbursement of or payment for reasonable travel expenses. An entity receives compensation within the meaning of this definition whether or not the compensation is received solely for activities regulated by this article or is received for other activities as well; however, only that portion of compensation received for the lobbying activities shall count toward the qualification threshold. An entity “becomes entitled to receive compensation” when the entity agrees to provide services regulated by this article, or performs those services, whether or not payment is contingent on the accomplishment of the client’s purposes. (Amended by Ord. No. 178,064, Eff. 1/15/07.)

“Lobbyist” (Amended by Ord. No. 178,064, Eff. 1/15/07.) means any individual who is compensated to spend 30 or more hours in any consecutive three-month period engaged in lobbying activities which include at least one direct communication with a City official or employee, conducted either personally or through agents, for the purpose of attempting to influence municipal legislation on behalf of any person.

Compensation does not include reimbursement of or payment for reasonable travel expenses. A person receives compensation within the meaning of this definition whether or not the compensation is received solely for activities regulated by this article or is received for both lobbying activities and other activities as well. However, only the compensation for the lobbying activities shall be calculated to determine whether an individual qualifies as a lobbyist. An individual “becomes entitled to receive compensation” when the individual or the entity in which the individual is an employee, partner, owner, shareholder or officer, agrees to provide services regulated by this article, or performs those services, regardless of whether payment is contingent on the accomplishment of the client’s purposes.

A lobbyist includes a person who owns an investment in a business entity if that person attempts to influence municipal legislation on behalf of the business entity and if the person acquires the investment as compensation for the person’s lobbying services or in contemplation of performing those services.

“Lobbyist employer” means an entity, other than a lobbying firm, that employs a lobbyist in-house to lobby on its behalf.

“Major filer” means any person who makes payments or incurs expenditures totaling $5,000 or more during any calendar quarter for public relations, media relations, advertising, public outreach, research, investigation, reports, analyses, studies, or similar activities, for the purpose of attempting to influence action on any proposed or pending matter of municipal legislation, if these payments or expenditures are not required to be reported on a lobbyist or lobbying firm quarterly report. A “major filer” does not include a lobbyist, lobbyist employer, or lobbying firm. Expenditures and payments for regularly published newsletters or other routine communications between an organization and its members shall not be counted for the purpose of this definition. (Amended by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

“Municipal legislation” means any legislative or administrative matter proposed or pending before any agency (as defined in this article), including but not limited to those involving the granting, denial, revocation, restriction or modification of a license, permit or entitlement for use (including all land use permits) if the Mayor, the City Council, any of its committees, any agency board, commission, committee, or general manager, or any agency officer or employee charged by law with holding a hearing and making a decision, is charged by law with making a final decision on the matter. However, “municipal legislation” does not include any of the following:

(1) A request for advice or for an interpretation of laws, regulations, City approvals or policies, or a direct response to an enforcement proceeding with the City Ethics Commission.

(2) Any ministerial action. An action is ministerial if it does not require the City official or employees involved to exercise discretion concerning any outcome or course of action.

(3) Any action relating to the establishment, amendment, administration, implementation or interpretation of a collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding between an agency and a

recognized employee organization, or a proceeding before the Civil Service Commission or the Employee Relations Board. Further, it does not include management decisions as to the working conditions of represented employees that clearly relate to the terms of such collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding. Nevertheless, “municipal legislation” does include any action relating to collective bargaining taken by the City Council, any of its committees or members (including the staffs of such members), or by the Mayor or the Mayor’s office.

(4) Preparation or compilation of any radius map, vicinity map, plot plan, site plan, property owners or tenants list, abutting property owners list, photographs of property, proof of ownership or copy of

lease, or neighbor signatures required to be submitted to the City Planning Department. (Amended by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

“Person” means any individual, business entity, trust, corporation, association, committee, or any other organization or group of persons acting in concert.

“Solicit” means to ask, personally or through an agent, that another person make a contribution to an elective City officer or candidate for City office, or to their controlled committee, including allowing one’s signature to be used on a written request for funds. For purposes of this article, a lobbying entity solicits a contribution only when the lobbying entity does so (i) at the behest of the elective City officer or candidate for elective City office, or their campaign treasurer, campaign manager, or member of their fundraising committee, or (ii) if the lobbying entity has informed the candidate or officer that the person is soliciting the contributions. A person does not solicit, however, by making a request for funds publicly to at least a majority of persons who attend any public gathering, or by making a request that appears published in a newspaper, on radio or television. (Added by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

The following persons are exempt from the requirements of this article:

A. Any public official acting in their official capacity, and any government employee acting within the scope of their employment.

B. A newspaper or other regularly published periodical, radio or television station or network, including any individual who owns, publishes or is employed by such newspaper, periodical or station or network, when, in the ordinary course of its business, it publishes or broadcasts news, editorials or other comments, or paid advertising, which directly or indirectly attempts to influence action on municipal legislation. This exemption does not apply to any other action by any such newspaper, periodical, station or network, or by any such person, to attempt to influence municipal legislation, if such activity is otherwise regulated by this article.

C. A person acting without any compensation or consideration other than reimbursement or payment of reasonable travel expenses.

D. Any person whose only activity is submitting a bid on a competitively bid contract, submitting a written response to or participating in an oral interview for a request for proposals or qualifications, or negotiating the terms of a written agreement with any City agency if selected pursuant to that bid or request for proposals or qualifications. Except with regard to persons covered by Subsections E and F, this exemption shall not apply to any person who attempts to influence the action of the Mayor or Mayor’s staff, any member of the City Council or their staffs, or any board or commission member with regard to any such contract.

E. Any organization exempt from federal taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which receives funding from any federal, state or local government agency for the purpose of representing the interests of indigent persons and whose primary purpose is to provide direct services to those persons, if the individual or individuals represented by the organization before any City agency provide no payment to the organization for that representation. This exemption shall not apply to direct contacts with a City official in other than a publicly noticed meeting, for the purpose of attempting to influence a City decision with regard to any City funding which the organization is seeking.

F. Any person employed by an organization described in Subsection E. with respect to the person’s activities as an employee of the organization.

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

No lobbyist or lobbying firm subject to the requirements of this article shall:

A. Do any act with the purpose and intent of placing any City official under personal obligation to the lobbyist, the lobbying firm, or to the lobbyist’s or firm’s employer or client.

B. Fraudulently deceive or attempt to deceive any City official with regard to any material fact pertinent to any pending or proposed municipal legislation.

C. Cause or influence the introduction of any municipal legislation for the purpose of thereafter being employed or retained to secure its passage or defeat.

D. Cause any communication to be sent to any City official in the name of any non-existent person or in the name of any existing person without the consent of such person.

E. Make or arrange for any payment to a City official, or act as an agent or intermediary in making any such payment by any other person, if the arrangement or the payment would violate any provision of the City’s Governmental Ethics Ordinance (Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 49.5.1, et seq.).

(Amended by Ord. No. 175,432, Eff. 9/28/03, Oper. 1/1/04.)

A. Lobbying entities and major filers shall prepare and retain detailed records (including all books, papers and other documents) needed to comply with the requirements of this article. Treasurers and fundraisers for elective City officeholders and City candidates, or for any elective City officer’s or City candidate’s controlled committees shall prepare and retain detailed contribution activity records for any contributions received as a result of fundraising activity engaged in by a lobbyist, lobbying firm or lobbyist employer, as defined by this article. These records shall be retained for not less than four years.

B. If a lobbying entity engages in fundraising activities as defined in Section 48.02 of this Code at the behest of a candidate or officeholder running for elective City office, the lobbying entity shall maintain records detailing any contributions that they know or have reason to know resulted from the fundraising activities.

C. If an officeholder or a candidate running for elective City office contracts with a lobbying entity to engage in fundraising activity as described in Section 48.02 of this Code, the committee treasurer and fundraiser shall maintain records detailing any contributions that they know or have reason to know resulted from the fundraising activities. The treasurer and fundraiser shall make the records available to the lobbying entity upon request of the lobbying entity.

D. If a lobbying entity delivers or sends written communications to a certified neighborhood council in an attempt to influence municipal legislation as described in Section 48.08.8 of this Article, the lobbying entity shall prepare and maintain detailed records of these written communications for not less than four years. (Added by Ord. No. 176,034, Eff. 7/26/04.)

(Amended by Ord. No. 172,479, Eff. 4/10/99, Oper. 4/1/99.)

A. Requirement. An individual who qualifies as a lobbyist shall register with the City Ethics Commission within 10 days after the end of the calendar month in which the individual qualifies as a lobbyist. A person, including an individual lobbyist, shall register with the City Ethics Commission as a lobbying firm within 10 days after the end of the calendar month in which a partner, owner, shareholder, officer or employee qualifies as a lobbyist. If a person is not registered as a lobbyist or lobbying firm, but is performing acts which would require that person to so register, that person may continue to act as a lobbyist or lobbying firm so long as the person registers with the City Ethics Commission within 10 days after the person knew or should have known of the obligation to register. A lobbyist or lobbying firm shall register each client on whose behalf or from which the lobbyist or lobbying firm receives or becomes entitled to receive $250 or more in a calendar quarter for engaging in lobbying activities related to attempting to influence municipal legislation.

B. Duration of Status. A person who registers as a lobbyist or lobbying firm shall retain that status through December 31 of that year unless and until that person terminates the status as set forth below.

C. Registration Fees. Every lobbyist shall pay an annual registration fee of $450 plus $75 for each client on whose behalf or from which the lobbyist receives or becomes entitled to receive $250 or more in a calendar quarter. Persons who initially register during the last quarter of a calendar year (October through December) shall pay prorated registration fees of $337 for each lobbyist plus $56 for each client. (Amended by Ord. No. 175,028, Eff. 2/5/03.)

D. Contents of Registration Statements – Lobbyists. Registration statements of lobbyists shall contain the following:

1. The lobbyist’s name, business address, business email, and business telephone number. (Amended by Ord. No. 182,360, Eff. 1/30/13.)

2. The lobbying firm, if any, of which the lobbyist is an employee, partner, officer or owner.

3. If the lobbyist is not an employee, partner, officer or owner of a lobbying firm, the name, address and telephone number of the lobbyist’s employer. (Amended by Ord. No. 182,360, Eff. 1/30/13.)

4. Each City agency that the lobbyist has the authority to attempt to influence on behalf of any client or employer.

5. A statement that the lobbyist has reviewed and understands the requirements of this article.

6. Any other information required by regulation of the City Ethics Commission, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this article.

E. Contents of Registration Statements – Lobbying Firms. Registration statements of lobbying firms (including individual contract lobbyists) shall contain the following:

1. The name, address, email, and telephone number of the firm. (Amended by Ord. No. 182,360, Eff. 1/30/13.)

2. The name of each lobbyist who is a partner, owner, shareholder, officer or employee of the firm.

   3. For each client on whose behalf or from which the firm received or became entitled to receive $250 in compensation during the calendar quarter for engaging in lobbying activities related to attempting to influence municipal legislation within the meaning of this Article: (Renumbered and Amended by Ord. No. 182,360, Eff. 1/30/13.)

      (a) The client’s name, business or residence address, and business or residence telephone number.

      (b) The period during which the representation will occur.

      (c) The item or items of municipal legislation for which the firm was retained to represent the client, or, if no specific items of municipal legislation for which the firm was retained to represent the client

   can be identified, a description of the types of municipal legislation for which the firm was retained to represent the client.

   (d) Each City agency that the lobbying firm has the authority to attempt to influence on behalf of the client.

   (e) In the case of a lobbyist who is an individual contract lobbyist, a statement that the lobbyist has reviewed and understands the requirements of this Article.

   (f) The name, address, email, and telephone number of the person responsible for preparing the statement.

   (g) Any other information required by regulation of the City Ethics Commission, consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Article.

F. Amendments to Registrations. Lobbyists and lobbying firms shall file amendments to their registration statements within 10 days of any change in information required to be set forth on the registration statement. (Renumbered and Former Subsection F. deleted by Ord. No. 182,360, Eff. 1/30/13.)

G. Termination. Any person registered under this Article shall file a termination statement with the City Ethics Commission within 20 days after ceasing all activity governed by this Article. (Renumbered and Amended by Ord. No. 182,360, Eff. 1/30/13.)

H. Education Requirement. Every individual who is required to register as a lobbyist shall attend a City lobbying information session conducted by the City Ethics Commission no less than once every two calendar years, according to the following schedule: (Renumbered by Ord. No. 182,360, Eff. 1/30/13.)

(1) An individual who has not registered as a lobbyist in the immediately preceding two calendar years shall attend a City lobbying information session within six months of the individual’s registration date as a lobbyist.

(2) A registered lobbyist who did not attend a City lobbying information session during the previous calendar year shall attend a City lobbying session by the end of the current calendar year.

(3) A registered lobbyist who attends a City lobbying information session during the current calendar year is not required to attend a City lobbying information session during the following calendar year.

(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

A. Audits. The City Ethics Commission shall have the authority to conduct audits of reports and statements filed pursuant to this article. Such audits may be conducted on a random basis or when the City Ethics Commission staff has reason to believe that a report or statement may be inaccurate or has not been filed.

B. Criminal Penalties.

1. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who knowingly or willfully causes any other person to violate any provision of this article, or who knowingly or willfully aids and abets any other person in the violation of any provision of this article, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

2. Prosecution for violation of any provision of this article must be commenced within one year after the date on which the violation occurred.

3. No person convicted of a violation of this article may act as a lobbyist or otherwise attempt to influence municipal legislation for compensation for one year after such conviction.

C. Civil Enforcement.

1. Any person who knowingly violates any provision of Section 48.04 shall be liable in a civil action brought by the City Attorney. Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any other provisions of

this article shall be liable in a civil action brought by the City Attorney. Failure to properly report any receipt or expenditure may result in civil penalties not to exceed the amount not properly reported, or $2,000, whichever is greater. Any other violation may result in civil penalties no greater than $2,000. If the court determines that a violation was intentional, the court may order that the defendant be prohibited from acting as a lobbyist or otherwise attempting to influence municipal legislation for one year.

2. In determining the amount of liability pursuant to this subsection, the court shall take into account the seriousness of the violation and the degree of culpability of the defendant.

3. If two or more persons are responsible for any violation, they shall be jointly and severally liable.

4. No civil action alleging a violation of this article shall be filed more than four years after the date the violation occurred.

D. Injunction. The City Attorney on behalf of the people of the City of Los Angeles may seek injunctive relief to enjoin violations of or to compel compliance with the provisions of this article.

E. Administrative Penalties. The City Ethics Commission may impose penalties and issue orders for violation of this article pursuant to its authority under Charter Section 706(c). (Charter Section No. Amended by Ord. No. 172,942, Eff. 1/21/00, Oper. 7/1/00.)

F. Late Filing Penalties. In addition to any other penalty or remedy available, if any person fails to file any report or statement required by this article, after any deadline imposed by this article, such person shall be liable to the City Ethics Commission in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25) per day after the deadline until the statement or report is filed, up to a maximum amount of $500. Liability need not be enforced by the Commission if its Executive Officer determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement of the penalty would not further the purposes of this article. No liability shall be waived if a statement or report is not filed within 10 days after the Commission has sent specific written notice to the filer of the filing requirement.

G. Restriction on Person Who Violates Certain Laws. (Added by Ord. No. 171,142, Eff. 8/3/96.)

1. No person shall act or continue to act as a registered lobbyist or lobbying firm if, within the prior four years, that person has been found by the City Ethics Commission, in a proceeding pursuant to Charter

Section 706, to have violated Charter Section 470(k) on any occasion. That determination shall be based either on a finding of the City Ethics Commission made after an administrative hearing or on a stipulation by the lobbyist or lobbying firm entered into with the City Ethics Commission within the previous four years. (Charter Section Nos. Amended by Ord. No. 172,942, Eff. 1/21/00, Oper. 7/1/00.)

2. If the City Ethics Commission makes a finding that the person has either (1) accepted responsibility for the violation in the form of having entered into a stipulation with the City Ethics Commission in which

the party admits the violation, or otherwise exhibits evidence of having accepted such responsibility, or (2) mitigated the wrongdoing by taking prompt remedial or corrective action, then the City Ethics Commission may reduce the time period during which the above prohibition would apply to a period of not less than one year.

H. Contract Bidder Certification of Compliance With Lobbying Laws. (Amended by Ord. No. 179,934, Eff. 7/21/08.)

1. A bidder for a contract, as those terms are defined in Los Angeles Administrative Code Section 10.40.1, shall submit with its bid a certification, through a form prescribed by the Ethics Commission, that the

bidder acknowledges and agrees to comply with the disclosure requirements and prohibitions established in the Los Angeles Municipal Lobbying Ordinance if the bidder qualifies as a lobbying entity under Section 48.02 of this article. An agency may permit the electronic submission of the form and the use of electronic signatures that comply with California’s electronic signature laws, but an agency may not alter the content of the form. The exemptions contained in Section 48.03 of this article and Los Angeles Administrative Code Section 10.40.4 shall not apply to this subsection. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,109, Eff. 6/13/19.)

2. Each agency shall include the Municipal Lobbying Ordinance in each invitation for bids, request for proposals, request for qualifications, or other solicitation related to entering into a contract with the City.

The ordinance must be provided in at least 10-point font and may be provided on paper, in an electronic format, or through a link to an online version of the ordinance. The ordinance is not required to be printed in a newspaper notice of the solicitation.

3. This subsection does not apply to the renewal, extension, or amendment of an existing contract, as long as the solicitation for the original contract met the requirements in Paragraphs 1. and 2. above and the

renewal, extension, or amendment does not involve a new solicitation.

4. For purposes of this subsection, “agency” does not include a state agency operating solely within the City such as the Community Redevelopment Agency or Los Angeles City Housing Authority.

(Added by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

As soon as practicable after the close of each quarterly reporting period, the City Ethics Commission shall prepare a report to the Mayor and City Council of lobbying activity which occurred during the reporting period. Such report shall be in a form which, in the opinion of the Commission, best describes the activities, receipts and expenditures of persons subject to the requirements of this article.

(Added by Ord. No. 169,916, Eff. 8/10/94.)

If any provision of this article, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held invalid by any court, the remainder of this article and its application to other persons and circumstances, other than that which has been held invalid, shall not be affected by such invalidity, and to that extent the provisions of this article are declared to be severable.