Ind. lobbyists register online

A new feature on Access Indiana, the state's Web portal, enables lobbyists

to register and report activities and gifts online.

The application, launched late last month by the Indiana Lobby Registration

Commission, saves the department from manually handling filings from more

than 1,300 lobbyists a year.

All lobbyists that work with the Indiana General Assembly must register

with the commission and report all activities and gifts. Before the Web-based

application, which automatically creates files in the ILRC office, forms

were mailed or hand-delivered.

"This application really helps the agency. It's a very labor-intensive

process," said Tara Powell, e-government specialist for Access Indiana.

"There are a lot of administrative savings."

The application is password- protected and is accessible only by lobbyists

or their lawyers. However, Powell said that the application will be expanded

in three weeks so that the public can submit queries online to follow lobbyists'

activities.