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<br />- <br /> <br />The County Code at Sec. 2-11.1 (q) states that city employees may not <br />lobby their respective municipalities for two years following city <br />employment. The intent of the law is to level the playing field and deter <br />former government officials and employees from exercising undue <br />influence on behalf of themselves or others as a result of their recent ties <br />to government. <br /> <br />Because the County Lobbying Ordinance at Sec. 2-11.1 (s)(1)(b) <br />specifically excludes from the definition of "lobbyist" two related <br />circumstances involving ex parte communications and expert witnesses, <br />the Ethics Commission was persuaded that the prohibition against <br />lobbying under the "two-year rule" did not include testimony proffered at <br />publicly noticed quasi-judicial proceedings.2 <br /> <br />Although the County Ethics Commission has jUlisdiction to interpret <br />ethics codes in all of the municipalities within the County, this opinion <br />construes the Miami-Dade County Conflict ofInterest & Code of Ethics <br />Ordinance only. Inquiries regarding possible conflicts under State law <br />should be addressed to State of Florida Commission on Ethics. <br /> <br />Please feel free to contact or me or Staff Attorney Victoria Frigo if we can <br />be of further assistance in this matter. <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />//j f l)'-, C"'~------~" <br />L-/-~ <br /> <br />ROBERT MEYERS <br />Executive Director <br /> <br />2 Under Sec. 2-11.1 (s)(I )(b) of the County Code, the term "lobbyist" does not include <br />attorncys or other representatives rctaincd or cmploycd solcly for the purpose of <br />representing individuals, corporations or other entitics during publicly noticed quasi- <br />judicial proceedings where the law prohibits ex-parte communications. Additionally, thc <br />term does not include expert witnesses who providc only scientific, technical or other <br />specialized information or tcstimony in public meetings. <br /> <br />RQO 10-19 Poliakoff <br />July 20,2010 <br />Page 2 of2 <br />