By: Thompson of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 4661

(Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2021; May 14, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; May 22, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 22, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 4661 By: Huffman

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to required sexual harassment prevention training for members of the legislature and lobbyists.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 305.005(f), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(f) The registration must be written and verified and must contain:

(1) the registrant's full name and address;

(2) the registrant's normal business, business phone number, and business address;

(3) the full name and address of each person:

(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action; and

(B) on whose behalf the registrant has communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action;

(4) the subject matter of the legislation or of the administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other administrative designation of the administrative action;

(5) for each person employed or retained by the registrant for the purpose of assisting in direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action:

(A) the full name, business address, and occupation of the person; and

(B) the subject matter of the legislation or of the administrative action to which the person's activities reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the docket number or other administrative designation of the administrative action; [and]

(6) the amount of compensation or reimbursement paid by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the registrant communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch; and

(7) a certificate evidencing completion of a sexual harassment prevention training course in the previous two years, as required by Section 572.102.

SECTION 2. Chapter 572, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING

Sec. 572.101. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING REQUIRED FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. Each member of the legislature or individual elected to the legislature shall:

(1) complete the sexual harassment prevention training program approved by the committee on administration for the house in which the member serves or will serve not later than the 90th day after each uniform election date in November of an even-numbered year; and

(2) file a certificate of completion of the program with the secretary of the senate or the chief clerk of the house of representatives, as applicable.

Sec. 572.102. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING REQUIRED FOR LOBBYISTS. (a) Each individual required to register under Chapter 305 shall attend a sexual harassment prevention training course every two years, as approved by the commission, and shall submit to the commission a certificate of completion of the course.

(b) The certificate of completion must be in a form approved by the commission.

(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 3. (a) Not later than September 1, 2021, the Texas Ethics Commission shall approve at least one sexual harassment prevention training course for purposes of Section 572.102, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas Ethics Commission shall adopt rules as required by Section 572.102, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(c) Section 305.005, Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a registration required to be filed under that section on or after January 1, 2022.

SECTION 4. 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.

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