§97-1  Definitions.  When used in thischapter:

(1)  "Administrative action" means theproposal, drafting, consideration, amendment, enactment, or defeat by anyadministrative agency of any rule, regulation, or other action governed bysection 91-3.

(2)  "Administrative agency" means acommission, board, agency, or other body, or official in the state governmentthat is not a part of the legislative or judicial branch.

(3)  "Contribution" includes a gift,subscription, forgiveness of a loan, advance, or deposit of money, or anythingof value and includes a contract, promise, or agreement, whether or notenforceable, to make a contribution.

(4)  "Expenditure" includes a payment,distribution, forgiveness of a loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money, oranything of value and includes a contract, promise, or agreement, whether ornot enforceable, to make an expenditure.  "Expenditure" also includescompensation or other consideration paid to a lobbyist for the performance oflobbying services.  "Expenditure" excludes the expenses of preparingwritten testimony and exhibits for a hearing before the legislature or anadministrative agency.

(5)  "Legislative action" means thesponsorship, drafting, introduction, consideration, modification, enactment, ordefeat of any bill, resolution, amendment, report, nomination, appointment, orany other matter pending or proposed in the legislature.

(6)  "Lobbyist" means any individual who forpay or other consideration engages in lobbying in excess of five hours in anymonth of any reporting period described in section 97-3 or spends more than$750 lobbying during any reporting period described in section 97-3.

(7)  "Lobbying" means communicating directlyor through an agent, or soliciting others to communicate, with any official inthe legislative or executive branch, for the purpose of attempting to influencelegislative or administrative action or a ballot issue.

(8)  "Person" means a corporation,individual, union, association, firm, sole proprietorship, partnership, committee,club, or any other organization or a representative of a group of personsacting in concert. [L 1975, c 160, pt of §1; am L 1980, c 129, §1(a); am L1982, c 105, §1; am L 1989, c 225, §1; am L 1995, c 220, §5]