Washington lobbyists soon will receive official notice that they must start next year to file their disclosure reports electronically, rather than on paper, according to an official in the Office of the Clerk of the House. Deputy Clerk Jerry Vans told attendees at a Capitol Hill briefing for lobbyists that notices regarding electronic filing would go out by the end of the month to current filers under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The move follows up on a June 27 directive from Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Administration Committee, calling for mandatory electronic filing. "We hope this will make your work easier," Vans told the July 12 briefing, attended by about 50 lobbyists. It was one of a series of such sessions sponsored by the House Clerk's Office to discuss the new electronic filing requirements. The LDA, which requires registration and periodic financial reports from those conducting paid lobbying, is 10 years old. The new electronic filing requirement, however, came suddenly last month, without prior notice, and has raised questions among some in the lobbying community about how they will comply. For example, lobbyists at the latest briefing were told by Vans and other officials from the House Clerk's office that they will have to have specified computer hardware and software to file their LDA reports online. Also, the House electronic filing system is not compatible with a voluntary electronic filing system in use for five years by the Secretary of the Senate, officials acknowledged.