LOBBYIST FILING AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made this 21st day of March,
2007, by and between the Maryland Government Relations Association and Jennifer
K. Allgair, Esquire, who has been designated Staff Counsel for this matter by
the Maryland State Ethics Commission (hereinafter the Staff Counsel).
The State Ethics Commission (“the Commission”) is the
executive agency of the State of Maryland established by Chapter 513, Acts of
1979 for the purpose of enforcing the Maryland Public Ethics Law (State
Government Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland, hereinafter the
Ethics Law) including the provisions of Subtitle 7, the lobbying disclosure
program.
Maryland Government Relations Association (“the
organization”) is an organization whose lobbying activities during the period
of November 1, 2006 through October 31, 2007 required the organization to
register as a lobbyist with the State Ethics Commission.
The organization did not timely register as required by
the State Gov.Md.Code Ann., §15-703(d)(1)(Supp.2006).
The organization subsequently registered on February 13,
2007 for the period November 1, 2006 through October 31, 2007.
The organization is voluntarily entering into this
agreement to admit its failure to timely file a lobbyist registration with the
Commission and to pay a sum of money in lieu of potential late filing fees and
other fines pursuant to Section 15-405 of the Ethics Law.
NOW THEREFORE, in
consideration of the submission of the required lobbyist registration form by
the organization on February 13, 2007 and the admissions and agreements herein
contained, the filer and the Staff Counsel stipulate and agree as follows:
1. The
organization did not timely file a lobbyist registration form for the period
November 1, 2006 through October 31, 2007 as required by §15-703(d)(1) of the
Ethics Law.
2. The
organization reported its delinquency to the Commission on February 13, 2007 by
filing a registration form (a copy of which has been attached hereto and made a
part thereof).
3. The
organization understands that failure to comply with the lobbying disclosure
provisions of the Ethics Law may subject the organization to a formal complaint
by the Commission and, upon finding of a violation, late fees and the possibility
of civil fines.
4. Based on the
facts stated in this agreement the filer agrees to pay as settlement of the
late filing matter, the amount of One Hundred and Thirty Dollars ($130.00) at
the time of the execution of this agreement in lieu of a potential late fee and
in lieu of civil fines for the above admitted late registration statement
(paragraph 1).
5. The Staff
Counsel will, upon execution of this Agreement by the filer recommend that the
Commission not institute any proceedings on his failure to timely register. The
organization understands that the Commission is under no obligation to accept
this agreement and may decide to take other action, including issuing a
complaint.
6. The
organization waives a formal hearing on this matter (if the agreement is
accepted by the Commission) to which it would be entitled if a complaint were
issued, and the organization understands that this Agreement and materials
relating to this matter are not subject to the confidentiality provisions of
the Ethics law, and will be public information unless otherwise protected.
7. The filer and
Staff Counsel have entered into this Agreement for the sole purpose of
receiving the late submission of a lobbyist registration statement and for the
payment of late fees and other fines and for no other purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
Maryland Government Relations Association and Jennifer K. Allgair, Staff
Counsel, State Ethics Commission, have hereunto set their hands.
/s/ ______/s/_______________________
Jennifer K. Allgair, Staff Counsel Kathleen
Murphy
State Ethics Commission President,
45 Calvert Street, 3rd Floor Maryland
Government Relations Annapolis, MD
21401 Association
(410) 260-7770
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State
of Maryland
County
of: _______________________, to wit:
Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
the State and County aforesaid, personally appeared Kathleen Murphy, President,
Maryland Government Relations Association who made oath on this day of ____________________, 2007 in due form of law that the
matters and facts hereinabove set forth are true to the best of his knowledge,
information and belief, and are his voluntary act and that he executed this
document for the purpose set forth herein.
__________________________________
Notary Public
My
Commission Expires: ______________________
---------------
State
of Maryland,
County
of: _______________________, to wit:
Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for
the State and County aforesaid, personally appeared Jennifer K. Allgair, Staff
Counsel to the State Ethics Commission, who made oath on this day of ________________, 2007 in due form of law that she executed
this agreement for the purposes set forth herein.
__________________________________
Notary Public
My
Commission Expires:
_____________________
---------------
Accepted by the Commission
_______________/s/___________________
Julian L. Lapides, Chairman
for the Commission
Date: April 5, 2007