Opinion letter to the Honorable Christopher S. Bond

February 4, 1976 Honorable Christopher s. Bond Governor of Missouri Executive Office State Capitol Building Jefferson City, Mi s souri 65101 Dear Governor Bond: OP I!iiOI; LET'J.'SR IlO . 31 FILED ~I This l e tter i s i n ans-.rer to your questi on s t at E;!tl as follows: 11 IS Hr s . Chri stop.!1er S . Bond a 'lol>oyi s t' as t hat t erm is defined in Se ction 105.470, and must she register as a l obbyist under t hat Section?" It is our understandi ng t hat !1r s . Bond may appear before legislative committees and di s cuos pr oposed l egi s l ation with members of the General Assembly . Hm'lever, you have informed us that she r eceives no compensation or any direct or indirect benefits in consideration for lobbying act ivi t i es . Mrs . Bond is not employed to serve as a l obbyist by any individual or or ganization, and her only interest in legis l ation is as an informed citizen. Section 105 . 470, RSMo 1969 , as amended (c.c .s .s .c.s .H.c.s. House Bills Nos . 20, 79, 386, 760 and 765, 78th General Assembly), requires registration by lobbyists . The term "l obbyist" is defined in Section 105 . 470 . 1(3) as : " [a ] ny person, including persons employed by or representing federal or state agencies and al l poli tical subdivisions thereof , who act s in the course of his employment or who engages himself for pay or for any valuabl e Honorable Christopher S. Bond consideration for the purpose of attempting to influence the taking, passage, amendment, delay or defeat of any l egislative action by the l egislature; or any person who receives any direct or indirect benefits or expenses for lobbying activities, whether by grant or otherwise, from any state, the federal gov- ernment or any private not for profit founda- tion or corporation; provided that the term shall not include any member of the General Assembly or elected state officer." We enclose Opinion Letter No. 25, rendered February 3, 1976, to Senator Paul L. Bradshaw , which discusses the activities which bring a person \<~ithin the definition of "lobbyist." It is our view that in the premises Mrs. Bond is not a "lobbyist" as defined and that she is not required to register pursuant to Section 105.470 . Enclosure: Op. Ltr. No. 25 2-3-76, Bradsha\ol Very truly yours, JOHN C. DANFORTH Attorney General - 2 -