University Ethics, Integrity, and Legal Compliance
Federal, State, and Local Elected Officials Reporting of Lobbying Activities, Expenditures and Gifts
Scope
Faculty and staff
Policy Statement
Federal and state laws govern the use of funds that can be spent on lobbying activities for all levels of government. These laws require the University to register as a lobbying entity and report lobbying activities as well as expenditures. Any violations of these laws could lead to significant penalties for the University ranging from large fines to criminal prosecution.The Office of Government and Community Relations is the University's designated point-of-contact for federal, state and local lobbying and must be contacted and informed of any planned activities that could be interpreted as lobbying by faculty, staff and/or students prior to taking any action on behalf of the University.
- Federal Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, amended 2007
The University is required to comply with the Federal Lobbying Disclosure Act. On September 14, 2007 President Bush signed in to law the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 which amends the Lobby Disclosure Act of 1995. The new Act prohibits federal officials and their staff from accepting gifts, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, forbearance, or other item having monetary value. There are a few exceptions but to ensure Syracuse University is in compliance with federal law, SU employees must consult with the Executive Director of Government and Community Relations before offering any gift, meal, goods or services to a federal official or his/her staff.Under the guidelines of provisions known as the "Byrd Amendment " [31 U.S. C §1352 (b)], federal grantees, contractors, those with cooperative agreements with the federal government, are prohibited by law from using federal monies to lobby the Congress, federal agencies or their employees with respect to the awarding of specific contracts and grants. Researchers should consult the Vice President for Research and the Executive Director of Government and Community Relations before contacts with Congress or federal agencies are made.
- New York State Lobbying Act
The New York State Lobbying Act (Chapter 1040, Laws of 1981 and as subsequently amended) requires registration and regular reporting on lobbying activities to the New York Temporary State Lobby Commission for both state and local government levels. Under this act, lobbying activities are defined as any activity conducted with the intent to influence the passage or defeat of legislation; the approval or disapproval of legislation by the governor; the adoption or rejection of any rule or regulation having the force and effect of law by a state agency; the outcome of any rate-making proceeding by a state agency; the passage or defeat of any local law, ordinance, or any regulation by any municipality; or adoption or rejection of any rule or regulation having the force and effect of local law, ordinance or regulation of any rate-making procedure by any municipality. The Lobbying Act also provides that lobbying on procurement contracts, Executive Orders and Tribal-State agreements are subject to enforcement by the New York Temporary State Lobbying Commission. - New York State Public Employees Ethics Reform Act
The 2007 Public Employee Ethics Reform Act (March 27, 2007) amends the New York State Lobbying Act and establishes new ethics and lobbying standards that in part:- Redefine "gift" as anything of "more than nominal value in any form including, but not limited to money, service, loan, travel, lodging, meals, refreshment, entertainment, discount, forbearance or promise, having a monetary value." This supersedes the former definition of anything of value greater than $75.00.
- Prohibit any lobbying entity or its personnel from offering or giving any gift of any value "unless under the circumstances it is not reasonable to infer that the gift was intended to influence" the elected officials.
- Create the Commission on Public Integrity, effective September 2007, to replace the Temporary State Commission on Lobbying and the State Ethics Commission, with jurisdiction over state and local officials, state officers and employees.
- Tickets to University Sporting and Other Events
To ensure compliance with lobbying laws, gifts of tickets to University sporting and other events are prohibited. All federal, state and local employees and elected officials must purchase tickets/parking passes for any sporting/entertainment events sponsored by the University. Payment must be made at the time the ticket/pass is received, not reimbursed at a later date.
Policy Administration
Links to Procedures and Related Information
Amended: September 2007
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