The Commission may consider one or more of the following criteria in imposing sanctions:

1. (1) the length of time the respondent has been engaged in lobbying for payment;
2. (2) the length of time the respondent has been paying an individual to lobby on its behalf;
3. (3) the length of time the respondent has been registered as a lobbyist or liaison personnel;
4. (4) the length of time the respondent has been registered as a lobbyist principal;
5. (5) the number of past violations of G.S. 120C by the respondent;
6. (6) the number of times the respondent has received a warning letter;
7. (7) whether the respondent knew or should have known that the conduct or activity was a violation of Article 1, 3, 5, or 7 of G.S. 120C;
8. (8) the nature and number of violations in the complaint;
9. (9) the duration of the violation;
10. (10) whether the respondent attempted to correct the violation prior to a complaint being filed;
11. (11) the result or effect of the violation;
12. (12) whether the violation was inadvertent or intentional;
13. (13) whether the respondent has received advice, informal or formal, from the Commission regarding the conduct or activity giving rise to the violation;
14. (14) the scope of the lobbying activity concealed;
15. (15) the amount of the resources expended to violate the law;
16. (16) the amount of expenditures concealed; or
17. (17) any other criteria that the Commission deems reasonable to assist with the determination of sanctions.

History Note: Authority G.S. 120C-101(a); 120C-601; 120C-602;
Eff. June 1, 2014.