The following rules apply to reporting political campaign contributions on lobbyist activity reports:
- Report campaign contributions made to public officials or public employees in the executive or legislative branch of state government as part of your lobbying activities. The Ethics Act, at W. Va. Code § 6B-3-1(6), defines “lobbying activities” as:
"Lobbying" or "lobbying activity" means the act of communicating with a government officer or employee to promote, advocate, or oppose or otherwise attempt to influence:
- The passage or defeat or the executive approval or veto of any legislation which may be considered by the Legislature of this state; or
- The adoption or rejection of any rule, regulation, legislative rule, standard, rate, fee or other delegated legislative or quasi-legislative action to be taken or withheld by any executive department.
- Report campaign contributions made by your spouse or a dependent family member from a joint banking account in which you are a joint account holder.
- Report the total amount of the campaign contributions on the lobbyist activity report under the section entitled "Political Campaign Contributions.” There is no
requirement that you list the names of individuals to whom you made a campaign contribution. - Do not report contributions made to a political action committee.
- Do not report campaign contributions you made to candidates who were not public officials or public employees at the time you made your contribution.* For example, if you make a contribution to a gubernatorial candidate who is not currently a public official or employee, you do not report the contribution on your lobbyist activity report. You would, however, report any contributions you made to the gubernatorial candidate after he or she is elected to office
*Government officer or employee" means a member of the Legislature, a legislative employee, the Governor and other members of the board of Public Works, heads of executive departments and any other public officer or public employee under the legislative or executive branch of state government who is empowered or authorized to make policy and perform nonministerial functions. In the case of elected offices included herein, the term "government officer or employee" includes candidates who have been elected but who have not yet assumed office. W. Va. Code § 6B-3-1(4).