{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/30-356.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/30-356.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/30-356.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/30-356.html"}],"law_id":61753,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61753,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-356","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Council","history":"2014, cc. 792, 804; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2016, cc. 773, 774; 2017, cc. 829, 832; 2019, c. 530; 2020, c. 111.","full_text":"The Council shall:\n\n1\n\nPrescribe the forms required for complying with the disclosure requirements of Article 3 and the Acts. These forms shall be the only forms used to comply with the provisions of Article 3 or the Acts. The Council shall make available the disclosure forms and shall provide guidance and other instructions to assist in the completion of the forms;2\n\nReview all disclosure forms filed by lobbyists pursuant to Article 3 and by state government officers and employees and legislators pursuant to the Acts. The Council may review disclosure forms for completeness, including reviewing the information contained on the face of the form to determine if the disclosure form has been fully completed and comparing the disclosures contained in any disclosure form filed by a lobbyist pursuant to § 2.2-426 with other disclosure forms filed with the Council, and requesting any amendments to ensure the completeness of and correction of errors in the forms, if necessary. If a disclosure form is found to have not been filed or to have been incomplete as filed, the Council shall notify the filer in writing and direct the filer to file a completed disclosure form within a prescribed period of time, and such notification shall be confidential and is excluded from the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.);3\n\nRequire all disclosure forms and lobbyist registration statements that are required to be filed with the Council to be filed electronically in accordance with the standards approved by the Council. The Council shall provide software or electronic access for filing the required disclosure forms and registration statements without charge to all individuals required to file with the Council. The Council shall prescribe the method of execution and certification of electronically filed forms, including the use of an electronic signature as authorized by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.). The Council may grant extensions as provided in § 30-356.2 and may authorize a designee to grant such extensions;4\n\nAccept and review any statement received from a filer disputing the receipt by such filer of a gift that has been disclosed on the form filed by a lobbyist pursuant to Article 3;5\n\nBeginning July 1, 2016, establish and maintain a searchable electronic database comprising those disclosure forms that are filed with the Council pursuant to §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-3117, 2.2-3118, and 30-111. Such database shall be available to the public through the Council’s official website;6\n\nFurnish, upon request, formal advisory opinions or guidelines and other appropriate information, including informal advice, regarding ethics, conflicts issues arising under Article 3 or the Acts, or a person’s duties under Article 3 or the Acts to any person covered by Article 3 or the Acts or to any agency of state or local government, in an expeditious manner. The Council may authorize a designee to furnish formal opinions or informal advice. Formal advisory opinions are public record and shall be published on the Council’s website; however, no formal advisory opinion furnished by a designee of the Council shall be available to the public or published until such opinion has been approved by the Council. Published formal advisory opinions may have such deletions and changes as may be necessary to protect the identity of the person involved or other persons supplying information. Informal advice given by the Council or the Council’s designee is confidential and is excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.); however, if the recipient invokes the immunity provisions of § 2.2-3121 or 30-124, the record of the request and the informal advice given shall be deemed to be a public record and shall be released upon request. Other records relating to formal advisory opinions or informal advice, including records of requests, notes, correspondence, and draft versions of such opinions or advice, shall also be confidential and excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act;7\n\nConduct training seminars and educational programs for lobbyists, state and local government officers and employees, legislators, and other interested persons on the requirements of Article 3 and the Acts and provide training sessions for local elected officials in compliance with Article 9 (§ 2.2-3132) of Chapter 31 of Title 2.2 and ethics orientation sessions for legislators in compliance with Article 6 (§ 30-129.1 et seq.) of Chapter 13;8\n\nApprove orientation courses conducted pursuant to § 2.2-3128 and, upon request, review the educational materials and approve any training or course on the requirements of Article 3 and the Acts conducted for state and local government officers and employees;9\n\nPublish such educational materials as it deems appropriate on the provisions of Article 3 and the Acts;10\n\nReview actions taken in the General Assembly with respect to the discipline of its members for the purpose of offering nonbinding advice;11\n\nRequest from any agency of state or local government such assistance, services, and information as will enable the Council to effectively carry out its responsibilities. Information provided to the Council by an agency of state or local government shall not be released to any other party unless authorized by such agency;12\n\nRedact from any document or form that is to be made available to the public any residential address, personal telephone number, email address, or signature contained on that document or form; and13\n\nReport on or before December 1 of each year on its activities and findings regarding Article 3 and the Acts, including recommendations for changes in the laws, to the General Assembly and the Governor. The annual report shall be submitted by the chairman as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be published as a state document.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":225507,"text":"The Council shall:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":225508,"text":"Prescribe the forms required for complying with the disclosure requirements of Article 3 and the Acts. These forms shall be the only forms used to comply with the provisions of Article 3 or the Acts. The Council shall make available the disclosure forms and shall provide guidance and other instructions to assist in the completion of the forms;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":225509,"text":"Review all disclosure forms filed by lobbyists pursuant to Article 3 and by state government officers and employees and legislators pursuant to the Acts. The Council may review disclosure forms for completeness, including reviewing the information contained on the face of the form to determine if the disclosure form has been fully completed and comparing the disclosures contained in any disclosure form filed by a lobbyist pursuant to § 2.2-426 with other disclosure forms filed with the Council, and requesting any amendments to ensure the completeness of and correction of errors in the forms, if necessary. If a disclosure form is found to have not been filed or to have been incomplete as filed, the Council shall notify the filer in writing and direct the filer to file a completed disclosure form within a prescribed period of time, and such notification shall be confidential and is excluded from the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.);","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":225510,"text":"Require all disclosure forms and lobbyist registration statements that are required to be filed with the Council to be filed electronically in accordance with the standards approved by the Council. The Council shall provide software or electronic access for filing the required disclosure forms and registration statements without charge to all individuals required to file with the Council. The Council shall prescribe the method of execution and certification of electronically filed forms, including the use of an electronic signature as authorized by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.). The Council may grant extensions as provided in § 30-356.2 and may authorize a designee to grant such extensions;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":225511,"text":"Accept and review any statement received from a filer disputing the receipt by such filer of a gift that has been disclosed on the form filed by a lobbyist pursuant to Article 3;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":225512,"text":"Beginning July 1, 2016, establish and maintain a searchable electronic database comprising those disclosure forms that are filed with the Council pursuant to §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-3117, 2.2-3118, and 30-111. Such database shall be available to the public through the Council’s official website;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":225513,"text":"Furnish, upon request, formal advisory opinions or guidelines and other appropriate information, including informal advice, regarding ethics, conflicts issues arising under Article 3 or the Acts, or a person’s duties under Article 3 or the Acts to any person covered by Article 3 or the Acts or to any agency of state or local government, in an expeditious manner. The Council may authorize a designee to furnish formal opinions or informal advice. Formal advisory opinions are public record and shall be published on the Council’s website; however, no formal advisory opinion furnished by a designee of the Council shall be available to the public or published until such opinion has been approved by the Council. Published formal advisory opinions may have such deletions and changes as may be necessary to protect the identity of the person involved or other persons supplying information. Informal advice given by the Council or the Council’s designee is confidential and is excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.); however, if the recipient invokes the immunity provisions of § 2.2-3121 or 30-124, the record of the request and the informal advice given shall be deemed to be a public record and shall be released upon request. Other records relating to formal advisory opinions or informal advice, including records of requests, notes, correspondence, and draft versions of such opinions or advice, shall also be confidential and excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":225514,"text":"Conduct training seminars and educational programs for lobbyists, state and local government officers and employees, legislators, and other interested persons on the requirements of Article 3 and the Acts and provide training sessions for local elected officials in compliance with Article 9 (§ 2.2-3132) of Chapter 31 of Title 2.2 and ethics orientation sessions for legislators in compliance with Article 6 (§ 30-129.1 et seq.) of Chapter 13;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":225515,"text":"Approve orientation courses conducted pursuant to § 2.2-3128 and, upon request, review the educational materials and approve any training or course on the requirements of Article 3 and the Acts conducted for state and local government officers and employees;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":225516,"text":"Publish such educational materials as it deems appropriate on the provisions of Article 3 and the Acts;","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":225517,"text":"Review actions taken in the General Assembly with respect to the discipline of its members for the purpose of offering nonbinding advice;","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"11":{"id":225518,"text":"Request from any agency of state or local government such assistance, services, and information as will enable the Council to effectively carry out its responsibilities. Information provided to the Council by an agency of state or local government shall not be released to any other party unless authorized by such agency;","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10","next_prefix":"12"},"12":{"id":225519,"text":"Redact from any document or form that is to be made available to the public any residential address, personal telephone number, email address, or signature contained on that document or form; and","type":"section","prefixes":["12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"12","prefix_anchor":"12","level":1,"prior_prefix":"11","next_prefix":"13"},"13":{"id":225520,"text":"Report on or before December 1 of each year on its activities and findings regarding Article 3 and the Acts, including recommendations for changes in the laws, to the General Assembly and the Governor. The annual report shall be submitted by the chairman as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be published as a state document.","type":"section","prefixes":["13"],"prefix":"13","entire_prefix":"13","prefix_anchor":"13","level":1,"prior_prefix":"12"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15000,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council","identifier":"56","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12738,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:25","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:25","permalink":{"id":200601,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15000,"identifier":"56","token":"30\/56","url":"\/30\/56\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12738,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Assembly","identifier":"30","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":199019,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12738,"identifier":"30","token":"30","url":"\/30\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":82694,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-355","catch_line":"Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; membership; terms; quorum; expenses","url":"\/30-355\/","token":"30\/56\/30-355","metadata":false},{"id":61753,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-356","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Council","url":"\/30-356\/","token":"30\/56\/30-356","metadata":false},{"id":86346,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-356.1","catch_line":"Request for approval for certain travel","url":"\/30-356.1\/","token":"30\/56\/30-356.1","metadata":false},{"id":57215,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-356.2","catch_line":"Right to grant extensions in special circumstances; civil penalty","url":"\/30-356.2\/","token":"30\/56\/30-356.2","metadata":false},{"id":62111,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-357","catch_line":"Staff","url":"\/30-357\/","token":"30\/56\/30-357","metadata":false},{"id":72146,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-358","catch_line":"Cooperation of agencies of state and local government","url":"\/30-358\/","token":"30\/56\/30-358","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82694,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-355","catch_line":"Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; membership; terms; quorum; expenses","url":"\/30-355\/","token":"30\/56\/30-355","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86346,"structure_id":15000,"section_number":"30-356.1","catch_line":"Request for approval for certain travel","url":"\/30-356.1\/","token":"30\/56\/30-356.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/30-356\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2014. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 792<\/a> and 804<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2015, chapters 763<\/a> and 777<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 773<\/a> and 774<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 829<\/a> and 832<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 530<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 111<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66885,"section_number":"2.2-3114","catch_line":"Disclosure by state officers and employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3114\/"},{"id":56109,"section_number":"2.2-3114.2","catch_line":"Report of gifts by certain officers and employees of state government","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3114.2\/"},{"id":64887,"section_number":"2.2-3116","catch_line":"Disclosure by certain constitutional officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3116\/"},{"id":59503,"section_number":"2.2-3117","catch_line":"Disclosure form","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3117\/"},{"id":70289,"section_number":"2.2-3118","catch_line":"Disclosure form; certain citizen members","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3118\/"},{"id":70868,"section_number":"2.2-427","catch_line":"Filings; inspection","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-427\/"},{"id":54910,"section_number":"30-103","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-103\/"},{"id":87033,"section_number":"30-110","catch_line":"Disclosure","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-110\/"},{"id":55696,"section_number":"30-110.1","catch_line":"Report of gifts","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-110.1\/"},{"id":62111,"section_number":"30-357","catch_line":"Staff","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-357\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":59503,"section_number":"2.2-3117","catch_line":"Disclosure form","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3117\/"},{"id":70289,"section_number":"2.2-3118","catch_line":"Disclosure form; certain citizen members","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3118\/"},{"id":65431,"section_number":"2.2-3121","catch_line":"Advisory opinions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3121\/"},{"id":68834,"section_number":"2.2-3128","catch_line":"Semiannual orientation course","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3128\/"},{"id":73681,"section_number":"2.2-3132","catch_line":"Training on prohibited conduct and conflicts of interest","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3132\/"},{"id":55569,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3700\/"},{"id":63916,"section_number":"2.2-426","catch_line":"Lobbyist reporting; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-426\/"},{"id":76882,"section_number":"30-111","catch_line":"Disclosure form","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-111\/"},{"id":55225,"section_number":"30-124","catch_line":"Advisory opinions","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-124\/"},{"id":65469,"section_number":"30-129.1","catch_line":"Orientation sessions on ethics and conflicts of interests","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-129.1\/"},{"id":57215,"section_number":"30-356.2","catch_line":"Right to grant extensions in special circumstances; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-356.2\/"},{"id":60668,"section_number":"59.1-479","catch_line":"Title","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-479\/"}],"permalink":{"id":200607,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61753,"identifier":"30-356","token":"30\/56\/30-356","url":"\/30-356\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/30-356\/","token":"30\/56\/30-356","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and duties of the Council","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 30-356","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Council shall:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Prescribe the forms required for complying with the disclosure requirements of Article 3 and the Acts. These forms shall be the only forms used to comply with the provisions of Article 3 or the Acts. The Council shall make available the disclosure forms and shall provide guidance and other instructions to assist in the completion of the forms; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Review all disclosure forms filed by lobbyists pursuant to Article 3 and by state government officers and employees and legislators pursuant to the Acts. The Council may review disclosure forms for completeness, including reviewing the information contained on the face of the form to determine if the disclosure form has been fully completed and comparing the disclosures contained in any disclosure form filed by a lobbyist pursuant to § 2.2-426<\/a> with other disclosure forms filed with the Council, and requesting any amendments to ensure the completeness of and correction of errors in the forms, if necessary. If a disclosure form is found to have not been filed or to have been incomplete as filed, the Council shall notify the filer in writing and direct the filer to file a completed disclosure form within a prescribed period of time, and such notification shall be confidential and is excluded from the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.); <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Require all disclosure forms and lobbyist registration statements that are required to be filed with the Council to be filed electronically in accordance with the standards approved by the Council. The Council shall provide software or electronic access for filing the required disclosure forms and registration statements without charge to all individuals required to file with the Council. The Council shall prescribe the method of execution and certification of electronically filed forms, including the use of an electronic signature as authorized by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479<\/a> et seq.). The Council may grant extensions as provided in § 30-356.2<\/a> and may authorize a designee to grant such extensions; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Accept and review any statement received from a filer disputing the receipt by such filer of a gift that has been disclosed on the form filed by a lobbyist pursuant to Article 3; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Beginning July 1, 2016, establish and maintain a searchable electronic database comprising those disclosure forms that are filed with the Council pursuant to §§ 2.2-426<\/a>, 2.2-3117<\/a>, 2.2-3118<\/a>, and 30-111<\/a>. Such database shall be available to the public through the Council’s official website; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Furnish, upon request, formal advisory opinions<\/span> or guidelines and other appropriate information, including informal advice, regarding ethics, conflicts issues<\/span> arising under Article 3 or the Acts, or a person’s duties under Article 3 or the Acts to any person covered by Article 3 or the Acts or to any agency of state or local government, in an expeditious manner. The Council may authorize a designee to furnish formal opinions<\/span> or informal advice. Formal advisory opinions<\/span> are public record and shall be published on the Council’s website; however, no formal advisory opinion<\/span> furnished by a designee of the Council shall be available to the public or published until such opinion<\/span> has been approved by the Council. Published formal advisory opinions<\/span> may have such deletions and changes as may be necessary to protect the identity of the person involved or other persons supplying information. Informal advice given by the Council or the Council’s designee is confidential and is excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.); however, if the recipient invokes the immunity provisions of § 2.2-3121<\/a> or 30-124<\/a>, the record of the request and the informal advice given shall be deemed to be a public record and shall be released upon request. Other records relating to formal advisory opinions<\/span> or informal advice, including records of requests, notes, correspondence, and draft versions of such opinions<\/span> or advice, shall also be confidential and excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Conduct training seminars and educational programs for lobbyists, state and local government officers and employees, legislators, and other interested persons on the requirements of Article 3 and the Acts and provide training sessions for local elected officials in compliance with Article 9 (§ 2.2-3132<\/a>) of Chapter 31 of Title 2.2 and ethics orientation sessions for legislators in compliance with Article 6 (§ 30-129.1<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 13; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Approve orientation courses conducted pursuant to § 2.2-3128<\/a> and, upon request, review the educational materials<\/span> and approve any training or course on the requirements of Article 3 and the Acts conducted for state and local government officers and employees; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Publish such educational materials<\/span> as it deems appropriate on the provisions of Article 3 and the Acts; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Review actions taken in the General Assembly with respect to the discipline of its members for the purpose of offering nonbinding advice; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> Request from any agency of state or local government such assistance, services, and information as will enable the Council to effectively carry out its responsibilities. Information provided to the Council by an agency of state or local government shall not be released to any other party<\/span> unless authorized by such agency; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> Redact from any document or form that is to be made available to the public any residential address, personal telephone number, email address, or signature contained on that document or form; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

13.<\/span> Report on or before December 1 of each year on its activities and findings<\/span> regarding Article 3 and the Acts, including recommendations for changes in the laws<\/span>, to the General Assembly and the Governor. The annual report shall be submitted by the chairman as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be published as a state document. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL (\u00a7 30-356)\n\nThe Council shall:\n\n1. Prescribe the forms required for complying with the disclosure requirements\nof Article 3 and the Acts. These forms shall be the only forms used to comply\nwith the provisions of Article 3 or the Acts. The Council shall make available\nthe disclosure forms and shall provide guidance and other instructions to assist\nin the completion of the forms;\n\n2. Review all disclosure forms filed by lobbyists pursuant to Article 3 and by\nstate government officers and employees and legislators pursuant to the Acts.\nThe Council may review disclosure forms for completeness, including reviewing\nthe information contained on the face of the form to determine if the disclosure\nform has been fully completed and comparing the disclosures contained in any\ndisclosure form filed by a lobbyist pursuant to § 2.2-426 with other\ndisclosure forms filed with the Council, and requesting any amendments to ensure\nthe completeness of and correction of errors in the forms, if necessary. If a\ndisclosure form is found to have not been filed or to have been incomplete as\nfiled, the Council shall notify the filer in writing and direct the filer to\nfile a completed disclosure form within a prescribed period of time, and such\nnotification shall be confidential and is excluded from the provisions of the\nVirginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.);\n\n3. Require all disclosure forms and lobbyist registration statements that are\nrequired to be filed with the Council to be filed electronically in accordance\nwith the standards approved by the Council. The Council shall provide software\nor electronic access for filing the required disclosure forms and registration\nstatements without charge to all individuals required to file with the Council.\nThe Council shall prescribe the method of execution and certification of\nelectronically filed forms, including the use of an electronic signature as\nauthorized by the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (§ 59.1-479 et seq.).\nThe Council may grant extensions as provided in § 30-356.2 and may\nauthorize a designee to grant such extensions;\n\n4. Accept and review any statement received from a filer disputing the receipt\nby such filer of a gift that has been disclosed on the form filed by a lobbyist\npursuant to Article 3;\n\n5. Beginning July 1, 2016, establish and maintain a searchable electronic\ndatabase comprising those disclosure forms that are filed with the Council\npursuant to §§ 2.2-426, 2.2-3117, 2.2-3118, and 30-111. Such database\nshall be available to the public through the Council’s official website;\n\n6. Furnish, upon request, formal advisory opinions or guidelines and other\nappropriate information, including informal advice, regarding ethics, conflicts\nissues arising under Article 3 or the Acts, or a person’s duties under\nArticle 3 or the Acts to any person covered by Article 3 or the Acts or to any\nagency of state or local government, in an expeditious manner. The Council may\nauthorize a designee to furnish formal opinions or informal advice. Formal\nadvisory opinions are public record and shall be published on the\nCouncil’s website; however, no formal advisory opinion furnished by a\ndesignee of the Council shall be available to the public or published until such\nopinion has been approved by the Council. Published formal advisory opinions may\nhave such deletions and changes as may be necessary to protect the identity of\nthe person involved or other persons supplying information. Informal advice\ngiven by the Council or the Council’s designee is confidential and is\nexcluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of\nInformation Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.); however, if the recipient invokes the\nimmunity provisions of § 2.2-3121 or 30-124, the record of the request and\nthe informal advice given shall be deemed to be a public record and shall be\nreleased upon request. Other records relating to formal advisory opinions or\ninformal advice, including records of requests, notes, correspondence, and draft\nversions of such opinions or advice, shall also be confidential and excluded\nfrom the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information\nAct;\n\n7. Conduct training seminars and educational programs for lobbyists, state and\nlocal government officers and employees, legislators, and other interested\npersons on the requirements of Article 3 and the Acts and provide training\nsessions for local elected officials in compliance with Article 9 (§\n2.2-3132) of Chapter 31 of Title 2.2 and ethics orientation sessions for\nlegislators in compliance with Article 6 (§ 30-129.1 et seq.) of Chapter\n13;\n\n8. Approve orientation courses conducted pursuant to § 2.2-3128 and, upon\nrequest, review the educational materials and approve any training or course on\nthe requirements of Article 3 and the Acts conducted for state and local\ngovernment officers and employees;\n\n9. Publish such educational materials as it deems appropriate on the provisions\nof Article 3 and the Acts;\n\n10. Review actions taken in the General Assembly with respect to the discipline\nof its members for the purpose of offering nonbinding advice;\n\n11. Request from any agency of state or local government such assistance,\nservices, and information as will enable the Council to effectively carry out\nits responsibilities. Information provided to the Council by an agency of state\nor local government shall not be released to any other party unless authorized\nby such agency;\n\n12. Redact from any document or form that is to be made available to the public\nany residential address, personal telephone number, email address, or signature\ncontained on that document or form; and\n\n13. Report on or before December 1 of each year on its activities and findings\nregarding Article 3 and the Acts, including recommendations for changes in the\nlaws, to the General Assembly and the Governor. The annual report shall be\nsubmitted by the chairman as provided in the procedures of the Division of\nLegislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and\nreports and shall be published as a state document.\n\nHISTORY: 2014, cc. 792, 804; 2015, cc. 763, 777; 2016, cc. 773, 774; 2017, cc.\n829, 832; 2019, c. 530; 2020, c. 111.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}