HomePoliticsETHICS COMPLAINT FILED: FORMER LVMPD TOM ROBERTS BROKE THE LAW FAILING TO REGISTER AS A LOBBYIST WHEN HE LOBBIED FOR 2016 MORE COPS TAX? Politics ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED: FORMER LVMPD TOM ROBERTS BROKE THE LAW FAILING TO REGISTER AS A LOBBYIST WHEN HE LOBBIED FOR 2016 MORE COPS TAX? May 22, 2018 Rob Lauer Political Reporter An ethics complaint was filed this week against former LVMPD Assistant Sheriff Tom Roberts for failing to register as a lobbyist in the 2016 special session when he lobbied for the more cops tax in Carson City with Sheriff Joe Lombardo. According to numerous lawmakers and others who were at the special session in 2016, Roberts and Sheriff Lombardo lobbied the legislature for authority to raise the sales tax in Clark County to fund hiring more Las Vegas Metro Police Officers. As an elected official Sheriff Lombardo was not required to register but Assistant Sheriff Tom Roberts was required to register as a lobbyist under The Nevada Lobbying Disclosure Act (Lobbying Act) in NRS Chapter 218H. According to the guidelines set forth in Nevada law, if Roberts stepped foot in the legislature building and discussed the tax increase with lawmakers on behalf of his organization then Roberts was required to register. Roberts was a lobbyist in past sessions as well. LIST OF LOBBYISTS IN 2016 SPECIAL SESSION The following and the Guide for the Legislative Branch of Nevada State Government constitutes the guidelines for compliance with the Nevada Lobbying Disclosure Act, as required pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 3 of NRS 218 H. 500. The Nevada Lobbying Disclosure Act (Lobbying Act) in NRS Chapter 218H establishes the requirements and restrictions on the conduct of lobbyists when they lobby members of the Legislative Branch of State Government. See NRS 218H.020, 218H.070, 218H.080 and 218H.090. However, the Lobbying Act generally does not apply to lobbyists when they lobby members of the Executive Branch of State Government or members of local governments, unless such lobbying also involves communications directly with a member of the Legislative Branch in a manner that meets the definition of lobbyist in NRS 218H.080. A. Steps that must be taken to lobby before the Nevada Legislature Prior to registering as a lobbyist, a person should review the provisions of the Lobbying Act, the Regulation on Lobbying adopted by the Legislative Commission and these guidelines to ensure that registration is required and to ensure that he or she registers appropriately given their unique circumstances. 1. The requirement to register as a lobbyist A person must register as a lobbyist if he or she (1) appears in the legislative building (or another building in which the legislature holds hearings), (2) communicates with a member of the legislative branch, (3) on behalf of another, (4) to influence legislative action and is not subject to the except ions detailed in subsection 2 of NRS 218H.080. A person who communicates with a member of the legislative branch on his own behalf or communicates with only Legislators from the district in which the person resides is not required to register as a lobbyist. In addition, persons who testify formally before legislative committees and who clearly identify themselves and the interests for whom they are testifying but who do not otherwise communicate with Legislators on behalf of another to influence legislative action are also not required to register as a lobbyist. See NRS 218 H. 080. Disclosure
