ny-ELG-41-26-00003-P: Amendments to the Ethics training requirements for Lobbyists and Clients

I.D. No. ELG-41-26-00003-P PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Pro- cedureAct, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule: Proposed Action: Amendment of Part 943 of Title 19 NYCRR. Statutory authority: Legislative Law, section 1-d(h) and (i) Subject: Amendments to the Ethics training requirements for Lobbyists and Clients. Purpose: Implement the statutory amendments included in Part U of Chapter 55 of the Laws of 2026 relating to ethics training for lobbyists and clients and the imposition of late fees for failing to complete such training within the required time. Text of proposed rule: Subdivision (b) of section 943.5 is repealed and subdivision (c) is amended to (b). New Section 943.16 is added to read as follows: 943.16 Online Ethics Training for Lobbyist and Clients (a) All Lobbyists (Principal Lobbyists and Individual Lobbyists) and all Clients (Contractual Clients and Beneficial Clients) listed on a Statement of Registration commencing with the biennial period 2023-2024 and there- after must complete the online ethics training course for Lobbyists and Clients, as provided by the Commission. (1) For organizations that engage in lobbying activity as either a Lobbyist or Client, the Responsible Party for the organization is respon- sible for completing the training on behalf of the organization. (2) In addition, all Individual Lobbyists must complete the training. (b) [Effective January 1, 2027] Commencing with the 2027-2028 bien- nial period and thereafter, all Lobbyists and Clients must complete such training at least once in each biennial period and at least once every two years, as follows: (1) Complete their first training within 60 days of the submission of the initial Statement of Registration listing the Lobbyist or Client, com- mencing with the 2023-2024 biennial period and thereafter. The 60-day 9 Rule MakingActivities period for completing training will be measured from the earliest submis- sion date listing a Lobbyist or Client on an active Statement of Registration. (2) Complete subsequent training again at least once in each bien- nial period and at least once every two years from the date the Lobbyist or Client first or subsequently completed the training, if such Lobbyist or Cli- ent is still listed on an active Statement of Registration at such time; and/or (3) If there is a lapse in a Lobbyist or Client being listed on an active Statement of Registration, such Lobbyist or Client must complete the train- ing again within 60 days of either being listed on a Statement of Registra- tion or two years from the date such Lobbyist or Client last completed such training, whichever is later. (4) Any Lobbyist or Client listed on an active Statement of Registra- tion who, because of the change in required training frequency, will automatically be late on January 1, 2027 or due in January 2027, must complete the training by February 1, 2027. (c) The Responsible Party of Lobbyists and Clients must enter train