| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating |
|
|
a criminal offense. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 572.062. FORMER LEGISLATOR: LOBBYING RESTRICTED; |
|
|
CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section, "administrative action," |
|
|
"communicates directly with," "legislation," "member of the |
|
|
executive branch," and "member of the legislative branch" have the |
|
|
meanings assigned by Section 305.002. |
|
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of |
|
|
the legislature may not, before the date of final adjournment of the |
|
|
second regular session of the legislature to convene after the date |
|
|
the person ceases to be a member of the legislature, engage in |
|
|
activities that require registration under Chapter 305. |
|
|
(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member of the |
|
|
legislature who: |
|
|
(1) communicates directly with a member of the |
|
|
legislative or executive branch only to influence legislation or |
|
|
administrative action on behalf of: |
|
|
(A) a nonprofit organization that does not |
|
|
represent a political subdivision of this state; |
|
|
(B) an individual; |
|
|
(C) a group of low-income individuals; or |
|
|
(D) a group of individuals with disabilities; and |
|
|
(2) does not receive compensation other than |
|
|
reimbursement for actual expenses for engaging in communication |
|
|
described by Subdivision (1). |
|
|
(d) A former member of the legislature who violates this |
|
|
section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class |
|
|
A misdemeanor. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 572.062, Government Code, as added by |
|
|
this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature who ceases to |
|
|
be a member on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |