Lobbying contacts

§ 2987. Lobbying contacts. 1. Definitions. As used in this title:

a. "lobbyist" shall have the same meaning as defined in section one-c of the legislative law.

b. "lobbying" shall mean and include any attempt to influence:

(i) the adoption or rejection of any rule or regulation having the force and effect of law by a public authority, and

(ii) the outcome of any rate making proceeding by a public authority.

c. "contact" shall mean any conversation, in person or by telephonic or other remote means, or correspondence between any lobbyist engaged in the act of lobbying and any person within a state authority who can make or influence a decision on the subject of the lobbying on behalf of the authority, and shall include, at a minimum, all members of the governing board and all officers of the state authority.

2. Every state authority shall maintain a record of all lobbying contacts made with such authority.

3. Every member, officer or employee of a state authority who is contacted by a lobbyist shall make a contemporaneous record of such contact containing the day and time of the contact, the identity of the lobbyist and a general summary of the substance of the contact.

4. Each state authority shall adopt a policy implementing the requirements of this section. Such policy shall appoint an officer to whom all such records shall be delivered. Such officer shall maintain such records for not less than seven years in a filing system designed to organize such records in a manner so as to make such records useful to determine whether the decisions of the authority were influenced by lobbying contacts.