Whereas, we believe in full disclosure of MAXIMUS’s direct and indirect lobbying activities and expenditures to assess whether MAXIMUS’s lobbying is consistent with MAXIMUS’s expressed goals and in the best interests of shareholders.

Resolved, the shareholders of MAXIMUS request the preparation of a report, updated annually, disclosing:

1. Company policy and procedures governing lobbying, both direct and indirect, and grassroots lobbying communications. 
2. Payments by MAXIMUS used for (a) direct or indirect lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications, in each case including the amount of the payment and the recipient. 
3. MAXIMUS’s membership in and payments to any tax-exempt organization that writes and endorses model legislation. 
4. Description of management’s and the Board’s decision-making process and oversight for making payments described in sections 2 and 3 above.

For purposes of this proposal, a “grassroots lobbying communication” is a communication directed to the general public that (a) refers to specific legislation or regulation, (b) reflects a view on the legislation or regulation and (c) encourages the recipient of the communication to take action with respect to the legislation or regulation. “Indirect lobbying” is lobbying engaged in by a trade association or other organization of which MAXIMUS is a member.

Both “direct and indirect lobbying” and “grassroots lobbying communications” include efforts at the local, state and federal levels. 

The report shall be presented to the Audit Committee or other relevant oversight committees and posted on MAXIMUS’s website.  

Supporting Statement As shareholders, we encourage transparency and accountability in MAXIMUS’s use of corporate funds to influence legislation and regulation. MAXIMUS spent $4,687,102 from 2010 – 2018 on federal lobbying. This does not include state lobbying expenditures, where MAXIMUS also lobbies in 33 states but disclosure is uneven or absent. For example, MAXIMUS had at least 140 lobbyists in 23 states in 2018 (followthemoney.org). MAXIMUS spent $1,960,081 on lobbying in New York and had lobbying contracts worth a total of $1,425,000 to $2,615,000 in Texas from 2011 – 2018. MAXIMUS’s lobbying to run public benefit programs at the local, state and federal levels has attracted negative attention. And MAXIMUS also lobbies abroad, and its lobbying over Work Capability Assessment contracts in the United Kingdom has drawn scrutiny.

MAXIMUS does not disclose its memberships in, or payments to, trade associations, or the amounts used for lobbying. Trade associations spend millions annually lobbying indirectly on behalf of companies. And MAXIMUS does not disclose memberships in tax-exempt organizations that write and endorse model legislation, such as the American Legislative Exchange Council. Absent a system of accountability, company assets could be used for objectives contrary to MAXIMUS’s long-term interests.

We believe MAXIMUS’s lack of lobbying disclosure presents reputational risks that could harm long-term value creation by MAXIMUS, and thus we urge the Board to institute comprehensive lobbying disclosure.