The Tampa Bay Rays thought they were on safe ground giving custom jerseys and ball caps to state lawmakers, but attorneys for the House and Senate say otherwise.

The Rays got rid of their lobbyist in February, but the lawyers note that state law defines lobbyist as anyone who worked for compensation during "the preceding 12 months."

So that means the Tampa Bay delegation must return the uniform and caps or pay for them out of their own pocket. And not the $43 the Rays said the jerseys cost. The lawyers, Steve Kahn and Jeremiah Hawkes, are telling lawmakers they must pay full retail, which approaches $100.

"I'm shipping it back," said Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater. Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, is doing the same. Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, sent the team a check this morning.

The jerseys were only the latest gift the Rays gave to lawmakers.

In May, the team invited the delegation to attend a game against the Detroit Tigers, putting lawmakers in a box and aides in the stands.

"I asked ''Why are we being invited?' and they said 'We've never really reached out to anybody,' " Hooper recalled. He said a team representative said it was OK because they did not have a lobbyist. "They said, 'There's no motive.' I can only assume now it was an effort to create warm and fuzzy feelings."

Hooper's office has called the Rays to find out how much the seats cost.