The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) sent an email out to members today notifying them of proposed lobbying restrictions that could affect small non-profits. 

The organization is concerned about a senate COVID-19 relief measure that would expand eligibility under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to include all 501(c)(6) organizations with 300 or fewer employees. They also highlighted the bill’s vague lobbying restrictions that would be used to further determine eligibility.

“We are concerned small organizations that typically do not lobby much would be inappropriately labeled as lobbying organizations and that the restrictions could exclude most, if not all, organizations that lobby on a modest basis,” the message read.

If a 501(c)(6) organization employs 300 or further people, it would only be eligible for a PPP loan if the organization does not receive more than 10 percent of its receipts from lobbying activities, or if the lobbying activities of the organization do not comprise more than 10 percent of the total activities of the organization.

SIAC says that 10 percent is a low threshold for any organization, but, unlike for 501(c)(6) organizations, these proposed restrictions would not apply to businesses and other nonprofits.

Find the organization’s call to action here.