Public Disclosure of Lobbying Act

(Measure passed House, amended, roll call #838 (307-34))

Public Disclosure of Lobbying Act - Makes provisions of this Act applicable to any organization which: (1) expends in excess of $1,250 in any quarterly filing period to retain a person to make or draft oral or written communications directed to a Federal officer or employee to influence specified official actions of such individual; or (2) employs at least one individual who spends 20 percent or more of his time in any quarterly filing period engaged in attempts to influence official action on behalf of the organization. Enumerates communications exempt from the provisions of this Act.

Excludes from the definition of a "lobby organization" any Federal, State, or local unit of government.

Requires each organization engaging in activities covered by this Act to register with the Comptroller General within 15 days of engaging in such activities. Sets forth minimum data to be contained in such registration. Requires that organizations specified by this Act maintain necessary records for each quarterly filing period in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Comptroller General.

Requires such organizations, within 30 days of the last day of each quarterly filing period, to file a report with the Comptroller General detailing specialized aspects of its lobbying activities, including expenditures, identification of lobbyists, and enumeration of issues generating lobbying efforts.

Exempts from reporting requirements the making of loans to Federal officers and employees at terms no more favorable than those available to the general public.

Requires that all contributions to registered lobbying organizations in excess of $2,500 be reported.

Directs the Comptroller General to make information compiled and summarized under this Act available to the public within 60 days after the close of each quarterly filing period.

Establishes procedures through which concerned organizations may obtain advisory opinions from the Comptroller General regarding the application of the provisions of this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to investigate and correct violations of this Act through informal action or by referral of the violation to the Attorney General for prosecution.

Directs the Comptroller General to refer to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct incidents of giving gifts exceeding $100 in value to determine if acceptance of such gifts violates the Rules of the House.

Classifies specified records maintained by the Comptroller General under this Act as within the scope of public information laws.

Directs the Comptroller General to transmit annual reports of activities under this Act to the President and to each House of Congress.

Allows either House of Congress to disapprove regulations proposed by the Comptroller General.

Subjects knowing violators of this Act to a civil penalty of $5,000 for each violation. Imposes upon knowing and willful violators of this Act a fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.

Repeals the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act.

Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.