§ 53.3. Lobbying firm registration.
(a) Unless exempt under section 13A06 of the act (relating to exemption from registration and reporting), a lobbying firm shall register with the Department within 10 days of the earlier of one of the following:
(1) Contracting in any form to engage in lobbying.
(2) Engaging in lobbying.
(b) Lobbying by a lobbying firm on a principal’s behalf constitutes acting in the capacity of a lobbying firm.
(1) A lobbying firm that is required to register and that engages in lobbying on its own behalf shall also register with the Department as a principal.
(2) Unless exempt under section 13A06 of the act, members or employees of a lobbying firm who engage in lobbying on behalf of the lobbying firm shall register as lobbyists with the Department under § 53.4 (relating to lobbyist registration).
(c) A lobbying firm shall register by filing a registration statement with the Department, on a form prescribed by the Department as required under § 51.7(a) (relating to forms, records and Department publications), which discloses at least the following information:
(1) The name, permanent address, daytime telephone number, email address if available, and name and nature of business of the lobbying firm.
(2) The name, registration number and acronyms of all ‘‘affiliated political action committees’’ as defined in section 13A03 of the act (relating to definitions).
(3) The name and permanent business address of each individual, registered or unregistered, who will for economic consideration engage in lobbying on the principal’s behalf. The lobbying firm need not list individuals exempt under section 13A06 of the act.
(4) The name, permanent business address, daytime telephone number and registration number when available of every principal that the lobbying firm represents.
(5) The registration number of the lobbying firm when available.
(d) For each address that is to be disclosed on a registration statement, the filer shall include the permanent business address. If the filer has more than one permanent business address, indicate the primary business address of the filer.
(e) The registration statement must include the lobbying firm’s consent to receive service of notices, other official mailings or process at addresses listed in the registration statement on file with the Department.
(f) The registration statement must include a statement that the lobbying firm, through its authorized representative, has received, read and understands the requirements and prohibitions of the act.
(g) The registration statement must also include a statement that the information on the lobbying firm’s statement is true, correct and complete to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, information and belief, and the affirmation is being made subject to 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities).
(h) A lobbying firm will not be considered registered until the completed registration statement and the biennial filing fee, in proper form as required by the act and this section, are received by the Department. However, if the Department receives the filing fee within 5 calendar days of the filing of a registration statement, the registration will not be considered delinquent, in compliance with § 51.4 (relating to delinquency).
(i) Unless terminated, a registration statement filed under the act is effective from the date of filing through the final day of the registration period then in effect. The lobbying firm shall file a new registration statement after that date, to the extent the lobbying firm is required to be registered under the act and this section.
(j) A person who is a lobbying firm as defined in section 13A03 of the act consents to receive service of process, even if that person is located out-of-State under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5322 (related to bases of personal jurisdiction over persons outside this Commonwealth).
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