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An Ordinance amending and supplementing the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 2, entitled "County Government Operations," through the creation of a new Chapter 290, entitled "County Lobbying Activities," in order to provide a uniform policy for lobbying activities undertaken by the County's agencies, departments, authorities, boards and commissions.
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Whereas, the government of Allegheny County, together with its various authorities, boards and commissions, exist for the purpose of providing services to the residents of the County; and
Whereas, over time, this core ideal has been cast aside in many cases in favor of a culture of self-preservation and self-interest in may of the County's authorities, boards and commissions, as well as within some of the County's agencies and departments; and
Whereas, this alteration has in some cases led to extensive lobbying activities being undertaken by the County's authorities, boards, commissions, agencies and departments at the expense of the County's taxpayers; and
Whereas, while some lobbying activities are necessary and desirable, it is the judgment of Council that individual governmental entities of the County should not conduct lobbying activities, insofar as these activities are both expensive and, if not properly directed in a uniform fashion, potentially counterproductive; and
Whereas, it is therefore the judgment of Council that all County authorities, boards, commissions, agencies and departments should be prohibited from engaging in any lobbying activities that are not specifically authorized and directed by the Chief Executive;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 2, entitled "County Government Operations," is hereby amended and supplemented through the creation of a new Chapter 290, entitled "County Lobbying Activities," and comprised of the following sections:
Chapter 290
County Lobbying Activities
§280-1. General Prohibition.
As of the date of final passage of this Chapter, no County authority, board, commission, agency and department, as defined within the Administrative Code of Allegheny County, the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, or other applicable statute, shall be empowered to conduct lobbying activities on its own behalf or retain any third party to conduct lobbying activities on its behalf without prior approval by Allegheny County Council.
§280-2. Contract Disclosure.
Within ten (10) days of the final passage of this Chapter, all County authorities, boards, commissions, agencies and departments, as defined in §280-1, shall provide the Chief Executive and Council with copies of any and all lobbying contracts in force as of the date of enactment of this Chapter.
§280-3. Noncompliance.
In the event that any County entity subject to the terms of this Chapter fails to comply with the prohibition or disclosure requirements delineated in §§280-1 and 280-2, such entity shall be deemed ineligible for County funding for the next budget year by the Council.
SECTION 2. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.