HB 2549

This bill prohibits a person from act ing as an agent of a foreign adversary unless the person has filed with the Tennessee ethics commission ("commission"") a true and complete registration statement and supplements to such statements as required by this bill. As used in this bill, a ""foreign adversary"" means a foreign government country, or non-government entity designated by the United States department of commerce as such, which presently includes all of the following:  The People's Republic of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region (China) .  Republic of Cuba (Cuba) .  Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) .  Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) .  Russian Federation (Russia) .  Venezuelan politician Nicolás Maduro (Maduro Regime). W ithin seven days after becoming an agent of a foreign adversary, this bill requires such person to file with the commission a sworn registration, under penalty of perjury, on a form prescribed by the commission. The obligation of an agent of a foreign adversary to register, after the seventh day of becoming an agent, continue s from day to day, and the termination of such status does not relieve such agent from the obligation to register for the period during which the person was an agent of a foreign adv ersary. This bill requires the registration to include all of the following:  The registrant's name, principal business address, and all other business addresses in the United States or elsewhere, telephone number, and email address .  The name of the foreign adversary, foreign-supported political organization, or legal entity that the agent represents, and the names, titles, and business addresses of all officers or directors thereof .  A comprehensive statement of the nature of the registrant's business .  Copies of each written agreement or the terms and conditions of each oral agreement, where no written agreement exists .  A comprehensive statement of all the circumstances detailing the process by which the registrant came to be an agent of a foreign adversary .  Name and business address of each member of the agent's immediate family who is an official within the legislative or executive branch .  The extent of each direct business arrangement or partnership between the agent and a candidate for public office or an official in the legislative or executive branch .  Any other information that the commission, having due regard for national security and the public interest, may require. Throughout the year, by amendment filed with the commission, this bill requires each agent of a foreign adversary to update, correct, or otherwise modify the agent's registration statement no later than seven days following the occurrence of an event, action, or changed circumstance that renders the registration statement inaccurate or incomplete. Within 10 days following the conclusion of quarterly periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and January 15, this bill requires each agent of a foreign adversary to file an additional statement with the ethics commission of all compensation or contributions received and all expenditures made by or on behalf of the agent in connection to the agent's political activities during the reporting period. This bill requires r egistration and filing fees for agents of foreign adversaries to be established by rule. The fees must be paid no later than 30 days following submission of a statement to the commission. PROHIBITED CONDUCT This bill prohibits a n agent of a foreign adversary from the same conduct as a lobbyist under present law. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS Upon receipt of a complaint that an agent of a foreign adversary has failed to comply with this bill, or upon its own determination, this bill requires the commission to investigate and assess penalties for any violation of this bill . The commission must assess penalties up to and including the following (i) f or any violation, up to $500 per infraction and (ii) f or willful or repeated violations, up to $10, 000 per infraction and, if the violator is an attorney, a reference of the matter to the Tennessee s upreme court for disbarment. This bill authorizes t he commission to refer any matter to the attorney general for further civil or criminal action. Upon receipt of a complaint that an agent of a foreign adversary has failed to comply with this bill, or upon its own determination, the attorney general may investigate any suspected violation of this bill, i ssue subpoenas and compel the production of documents, an d i nitiate civil or criminal actions to enforce compliance."