The Joint Commission on Public Ethics recently posted on its website an outline for lobbyists and groups with 501(c)4 tax status informing them that looming disclosure requirements are being put together.

The comment period period began more than a month ago and ended May 18.

However, no timetable for when the disclosure rules take effect is given.

I’m told that the note also was emailed to registered lobbyists who would have to comply with the disclosure requirements.

The disclosure process is still very much in the development phase, the posting suggests.

“As these forms will necessarily track the regulations the Commission ultimately develops, they will not be available until those regulations are enacted,” the post says. “Lobbyists and clients potentially subject to the new disclosure requirements should continue to maintain their internal records to be able to meet the new requirements once the regulations are in place.”

What is not clear is when these guidelines will be developed for the organizations or when the information from the groups seeking to influence government will be required to disclose their sources of funding.

The post comes around the same time its revealed that The Committee to Save New York received millions of dollars from gambling interests.

Committee spokesman Mike McKeon says CSNY will comply with all disclosure laws, but said the coalition of real estate and business interests aligned with Gov. Andrew Cuomo will not proactively reveal their donor list.

Here’s the full message from JCOPE:

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics is developing guidelines and regulations relating to new disclosure requirements for lobbyists and clients of lobbyists pursuant to The Public Integrity Reform Act of 2011. As part of that process, the Commission is developing forms and instructions, both online and in hard copy, for lobbyists and clients to comply with the new source of funding disclosure requirement pursuant to Legislative Law §§1-h (c) (4) and 1-j (c) (4). As these forms will necessarily track the regulations the Commission ultimately develops, they will not be available until those regulations are enacted. Lobbyists and clients potentially subject to the new disclosure requirements should continue to maintain their internal records to be able to meet the new requirements once the regulations are in place. Notice will be sent when the forms and instructions are available.

Update: The law requires that some disclosure of income by the groups will have to be made after a reporting period ends July 16, though it’s unclear how far back that reporting period will go. We very well could only see the tip of the iceberg, depending on how the law is interpreted. In addition, JCOPE is holding a public hearing Thursday on putting together disclosure regulations.

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