NY Lobbying Firm Fined $180,000 For Violating State Rules

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York state lobbying firm has been fined $180,000 after a state ethics panel determined it repeatedly failed to file required disclosure forms with the state.

The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics announced Wednesday that Long Island-based State Advisers LLC either failed to file or was late in submitting 148 bimonthly lobbying reports and also failed to pay lobbyist registration fees.

The firm had agreed to pay the state $62,000 in April to resolve the case but the commission says the penalty was never paid.

State law requires lobbyists to file periodic reports about their activity and their agreements with clients.

State Advisers' principal, Keith Sernick, tells The Associated Press that he acknowledged not filing the proper paperwork on time and will accept the commission's determination.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]