44.12.211    ALLOCATION OF TIME AND COSTS--ALTERNATIVE REPORTING METHOD

(1) A principal may use the following alternatives to report payments made to a lobbyist or an individual to lobby or to support or assist a lobbying activity:

(a) if most or all of the time spent by a lobbyist or an individual during a reporting period is devoted to lobbying or supporting or assisting lobbying activities, the total sum of all compensation paid to the person during the period may be reported as lobbying payments;

(b) if less than all of the time spent by a lobbyist or an individual is devoted to lobbying or supporting or assisting lobbying activities, then the sum reportable may be calculated as the proportion of the total compensation paid that equals the proportion of the total hours or days spent lobbying or supporting or assisting lobbying activities during the reporting period. For example, if a lobbyist or an individual engaged in lobbying activities is paid $500 per week and spends the equivalent of two days lobbying or supporting or assisting lobbying activities, then $200 may be reported by his principal as lobbying payments; and

(c) office space, utilities, supplies, equipment, and salary payments made to support or assist a lobbyist or an individual engaged in lobbying or a lobbying activity may be reported as a proportion of total expenses for the reporting period. If it can be reasonably determined that a given proportion of total expenses during a period were related to lobbying or supporting or assisting lobbying activities, a principal may report the proportion of total expenses for the period that equals the proportion of time and budget spent on lobbying or supporting or assisting lobbying activities.

(2) A principal who uses the alternative reporting methods described in (1) (b) and (c) shall retain all calculations and records used to determine the amount reported as required by 5-7-212 , MCA, and ARM 44.12.202.

History: 5-7-111, MCA; IMP, 5-7-111, 5-7-208, MCA; NEW, 1982 MAR p. 1208, Eff. 6/18/82; AMD, 2002 MAR p. 2458, Eff. 9/13/02; AMD, 2004 MAR p. 1979, Eff. 8/20/04.