Lobbying Forms & Instructions
**Important New Requirement **
Beginning with the 1st quarter of 2005, lobbying entities (Firms, Employers, Lobbyists and Payment to Influence filers) who file their quarterly reports either electronically or online are no longer required to file paper versions of those reports with the Secretary of State’s Office. (Please note that registration forms must still be filed on paper also.)
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All lobbying forms are listed below followed by a compendium that briefly explains each form. If you click on a form number in either the list or compendium, you will go to a copy of that form with instructions for filling out the form.
To view and print copies of these forms (which are PDF files) you must use Adobe Acrobat Reader.
For instructions to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, click Adobe Acrobat.
On the Fair
Political Practices Commission's website you can find the Political
Reform Act at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.html?id=51
and the Lobbying Disclosure Information Manual at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.html?ID=506.
| FORM
601: |
LOBBYING FIRM REGISTRATION
STATEMENT |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm, individual contract lobbyist |
| PURPOSE: |
Registration form for lobbying firm (or individual
contract lobbyist) which is filed upon qualifying as a firm. This form
is also used to renew an existing lobbying firm's registration on a biennial
basis. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Must register within 10 days of qualifying as
a lobbying firm. Renewal of existing registration is due between November
1 and December 31 of each even-numbered year. This registration is valid
for the complete two-year cycle of such session. |
| FORM
602: |
LOBBYING FIRM ACTIVITY
AUTHORIZATION |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm, registered lobbyist employer,
lobbying coalition, non-registered lobbyist employer (client of firm) |
| PURPOSE: |
Authorization form filed by each person (or
entity) who employs or contracts with a lobbying firm. This form serves
as an attachment to Form 601, and is filed by the applicable lobbying firm.
Form 602 also contains a schedule which describes by category the nature
and interest of the client of the firm. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Like Form 601, this registration attachment
is valid for the length of the State Legislative session during which it
is filed. |
| NOTE: |
Form 602 must be filed by a firm for its client,
prior to attempting to influence legislative or administrative action
on behalf of that client. |
| FORM
603: |
LOBBYIST EMPLOYER OR LOBBYING
COALITION REGISTRATION STATEMENT |
| FILER: |
Registered lobbyist employer, lobbying coalition |
| PURPOSE: |
Registration statement filed by a lobbyist employer or lobbying coalition upon qualifying as an employer or coalition. This form is also used to renew an existing registration on a biennial basis. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Must register within 10 days of qualifying as a lobbyist employer or lobbying coalition. Renewal of an existing registration is due between November 1 and December 31 of each even-numbered year. This registration is valid for the complete two-year cycle of such session. |
| FORM
604: |
LOBBYIST CERTIFICATION
STATEMENT |
| FILER: |
Individual who qualifies as a lobbyist (including
an individual contract lobbyist) |
| PURPOSE: |
Initial certification statement filed by any
individual who qualifies as a lobbyist. It is also used as a renewal of
a previous lobbyist certification. This form serves as an attachment to
either Form 601 or Form 603. This form also includes verification on whether
or not the lobbyist has attended a required course on ethical issues and
laws relating to lobbying within the previous 12 months. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
A lobbyist must complete an original certification
statement within 20 days of qualifying as a lobbyist. The firm or employer
(coalition) who has already registered must attach the completed Form 604
to a Form 605 (Amendment to Registration). Certification of an existing
lobbyist must be renewed between November 1 and December 31 of each even-numbered
year. The certification statement must be filed in concert with either
the firm's or employer's (coalition's) own registration statement. |
| FORM
605: |
AMENDMENT TO REGISTRATION,
LOBBYING FIRM, LOBBYIST EMPLOYER, LOBBYING COALITION |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm, lobbyist employer, lobbying coalition |
| PURPOSE: |
Standard amendment form which is used to amend any previously-filed registration information. It is used to add or delete both lobbyists and clients to an existing registration. It is also used to change name, address, and responsible officer information, as well as any other pertinent information found on Forms 601, 602, 603, or 604. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
An existing lobbying firm adding a new client must file Form 605 (in concert with Form 602) prior to attempting to influence legislative or administrative action on behalf of that client. All other changes to registration documents already on file must be filed within 20 days of the effective date of such changes. |
| FORM
606: |
NOTICE OF TERMINATION |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm, registered lobbyist employer,
lobbying coalition, lobbyist |
| PURPOSE: |
Termination form used by the filer who has ceased
all lobbying activity and now wishes to terminate a filed registration
(or certification) statement. A client of a firm (non-registered employer)
does not use this form to cease lobbying activity. Instead it is deleted
by the associated firm, which files a Form 605. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Upon termination. A final quarterly disclosure
statement must be filed for the quarter in which the date of termination
is effective. |
| FORM
607: |
NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm, lobbyist |
| PURPOSE: |
This form is used to withdraw the filed registration
statement of a firm which has never met the statutory definition of a lobbying
firm. It also is filed by a lobbyist who has never met the statutory definition
of a lobbyist. Submittal of this form relieves the filer of any duty to
file any previously-required quarterly disclosure statements. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Upon withdrawal. This form nullifies the filed
registration of a lobbying firm or the filed certification of a lobbyist. |
| FORM
615: |
LOBBYIST REPORT |
| FILER: |
Lobbyist |
| PURPOSE: |
Quarterly disclosure statement completed by
the in-house lobbyist of a lobbying firm, lobbyist employer, or lobbying
coalition. It is not filed on its own, but rather it is an attachment to
either Form 625 (Report of Lobbying Firm) or Form 635 (Report of Lobbyist
Employer/Lobbying Coalition). |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Three-month calendar quarter, of which 8 periods
occur in a 2- year legislative cycle. This form must be completed even
if there is no activity in a specific quarter. |
| FORM
625: |
REPORT OF LOBBYING FIRM |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm (including individual contract
lobbyist) |
| PURPOSE: |
Quarterly disclosure statement filed by a lobbying
firm for each calendar quarter. If the firm employs one or more in-house
lobbyists, then a separate Form 615 (Lobbyist Report) must be attached
for each lobbyist. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Three-month calendar quarter, of which 8 periods
occur in a 2- year legislative cycle. Must be filed even if there is no
activity in a specific quarter. |
| FORM
630 ATTACHMENT: |
PAYMENTS MADE TO LOBBYING
COALITIONS |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm, lobbyist employer, $5,000 filer |
| PURPOSE: |
An attachment to the quarterly disclosure report
filed by a lobbying firm or lobbyist employer which makes payments to a
lobbying coalition. This attachment itemizes such payments. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Same period as the specific quarterly disclosure
document to which Form 630 serves as an attached schedule. |
| FORM
635: |
REPORT OF LOBBYIST EMPLOYER
AND REPORT OF LOBBYING COALITION |
| FILER: |
Registered lobbyist employer, lobbying coalition,
non-registered lobbyist employer (i.e., client of a firm) |
| PURPOSE: |
Quarterly disclosure statement filed by a registered
lobbyist employer or a lobbying coalition. For each in-house lobbyist,
a separate Form 615 must be completed as an attachment to the filed Form
635. This form is also used as a quarterly disclosure statement for a client
of a firm which has no in-house lobbyist (also referred to as a non-registered
employer). |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Three-month calendar quarter, of which 8 periods
occur in a 2- year legislative cycle. Must be filed even if there is no
activity in a specific quarter. |
| FORM
635-C ATTACHMENT: |
PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY LOBBYING
COALITIONS |
| FILER: |
Lobbying coalition |
| PURPOSE: |
An attachment filed with Form 635 (Report of
a Lobbying Coalition) which discloses all payments received from the members
of a coalition. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Same period as the specific quarterly disclosure
document to which Form 635-C serves as an attached schedule. |
| NOTE: |
Form 630 discloses payments made by a firm and/or
employer to a coalition, while Form 635-C shows payments received from
members of the coalition. Both Forms 630 and 635-C are attachments rather
than separately filed forms. |
| FORM
640 ATTACHMENT: |
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES REPORTING
OF "OTHER PAYMENTS TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION" |
| FILER: |
State or local governmental agency which qualifies
as a registered lobbyist employer (or $5,000 filer) or non-registered lobbyist
employer |
| PURPOSE: |
This attachment replaces Section D of Form 635,
and Section B of Form 645 (both labeled "Other Payments to Influence Legislative
or Administrative Action). It is filed in conjunction with either Form
635 (if a lobbyist employer) or Form 645 (if a $5,000 filer). |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Same period as the specific quarterly disclosure
statement to which Form 640 serves as an attached schedule. |
| FORM
645: |
REPORT OF PERSON SPENDING
$5,000 OR MORE TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION |
| FILER: |
$5,000 filer (person who does not employ a lobbyist
or contract with a lobbying firm, but who makes payments to influence legislative
or administrative action in aggregation of $5,000 or more in any calendar
quarter) |
| PURPOSE: |
Quarterly disclosure document filed by a $5,000
filer. The $5,000 filer does not submit either a registration or termination
statement, and is only required to file Form 645 in those calendar quarters
which $5,000 or more is spent to influence legislative or administrative
action. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
Every 3-month calendar quarter in which the
$5,000 criteria is met to influence administrative or legislative action. |
| FORM
690: |
AMENDMENT TO LOBBYING DISCLOSURE
REPORT |
| FILER: |
Lobbying firm, registered lobbyist employer,
lobbying coalition, $5,000 filer, non-registered lobbyist employer, lobbyist |
| PURPOSE: |
This form is used by the filer to amend any
information previously submitted on a quarterly disclosure report (Forms
615, 625, 635, or 645). Any amendment to the registration statement should
be made on Form 605 rather than Form 690. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
The same period as the filed quarterly disclosure
report which is being amended. |
| FORM PRD-1: |
REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF LIABILITY |
| FILER: |
Filer who has been fined by the Secretary of
State for filing a lobbying statement late. |
| PURPOSE: |
A request for waiver of a fine for filing a
statement late must be submitted on a Form PRD-1. The Secretary of State will consider a request to waive the payment of a late filing fee only if the request is based on
"Good Cause" Reasons For Waiving Late Filing Fees, and the Form PRD-1 is filed within 30 days of receiving a liability notification. |
| PERIOD COVERED: |
The same period as the filed quarterly disclosure report which has been fined. |
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