Providence targeting corruption, lobbyists

That new rule drew a protest later in the day from the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which said it was too far-reaching and would chill community advocacy.

The pension ordinance goes into effect for anyone who has applied for a city pension since Jan. 1, 2011.

It would not apply to Prignano, chief under mayor Buddy Cianci, or Ryan, who were both implicated in a police testing scandal but never charged. Both were allowed to keep their pensions.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled in January that the old ordinance meant city workers must be convicted of a crime related to their jobs to have their pensions revoked.

Under the new ordinance, it is mandatory to revoke or reduce the pension of anyone convicted of a job-related crime. The city’s pension board also may revoke or reduce a pension if the board determines the employee has engaged in “dishonorable service.’’

The lobbying ordinance makes Providence the first city in the state to require lobbyists to register.

Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU in Rhode Island, said that he believes the ordinance is well intentioned but that the definition of lobbyist is so broad that many groups and volunteers will have to comply, even if they send just one letter or make one phone call about an issue.