Advisory Opinion No. 98-152

Re: Dr. Robert D. Mastronardi

QUESTION PRESENTED

The Petitioner, a member of the Workers Compensation Medical Advisory Board and the Rhode Island Chiropractic Board of Examiners, state appointed positions, requests an advisory opinion as to whether he may work as a legislative lobbyist on behalf of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island in the upcoming session of the General Assembly.

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission that the Petitioner, a member of the Workers Compensation Medical Advisory Board and the Rhode Island Chiropractic Board of Examiners, state appointed positions, may lobby the General Assembly on behalf of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island. Since the Petitioner lobbying activities involve interaction with the General Assembly, not either of the boards on which he serves, he would not be appearing or lobbying before his own board. Therefore, Section 5(e) of the Code is not applicable here. Additionally, as a member of the Workers Compensation Medical Advisory Board and the Rhode Island Chiropractic Board of Examiners the Petitioner does not have fiscal or jurisdictional control over members of the General Assembly. Therefore, the prohibitions set out in Commission Regulation 5008 are not implicated. Finally, while the Petitioner may work as a lobbyist, he should avoid situations where his activities would impact his personal financial situation in addition to the more general interests of the Rhode Island Chiropractic Board of Examiners or Workers Compensation Medical Advisory Board member; e.g., issues relating to his compensation as a member of those boards. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-5(b).

Code Citations:

36-14-5(b)

36-14-5(e)

36-14-5008

Related Advisory Opinions:

97-104

Keywords:

Lobbying