By Raymond H.B. No. 2187
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to prohibiting former legislators, legislative employees,
1-3 statewide elected officials, and officers of executive state
1-4 agencies from engaging in lobbying activities; providing a criminal
1-5 penalty.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Chapter 421, Acts of the 63rd Legislature,
1-8 Regular Session, 1973 (Article 6252-9b, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-9 Statutes), is amended by adding Section 7D to read as follows:
1-10 Sec. 7D. REPRESENTATION BY FORMER LEGISLATOR OR LEGISLATIVE
1-11 EMPLOYEE PROHIBITED. (a) For the first two years after the date a
1-12 member of the legislature ceases to be a member, the former member
1-13 may not engage in activities that require registration under
1-14 Chapter 305, Government Code, and its subsequent amendments.
1-15 (b) For the first year after the date of an employee of a
1-16 member of the legislature or of a legislative agency ceases to be
1-17 employed by that member or agency, the former employee may not
1-18 engage in activities that require registration under Chapter 305,
1-19 Government Code, and its subsequent amendments.
1-20 (c) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally
1-21 or knowingly violates Subsection (a) of this section. An offense
1-22 under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
1-23 (d) This section applies only to a person who:
2-1 (1) becomes a member of legislature for the first time
2-2 on or after January 1, 1994, or
2-3 (2) is employed by a member of the legislature or a
2-4 legislative agency for the first time on or after January 1, 1994.
2-5 SECTION 2. Section 7A, Chapter 421, Acts of the 63rd
2-6 Legislature, Regular Session, 1973 (Article 6252-9b, Vernon's Texas
2-7 Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as
2-8 follows:
2-9 (g) An officer of a state agency or a statewide elected
2-10 official may not engage in activities that require registration
2-11 under Chapter 305, Government Code, and its subsequent amendments
2-12 for the first two years after the date the officer ceases to be an
2-13 officer. This subsection applies only to a person who becomes a
2-14 state officer for the first time on or after January 1, 1994.
2-15 SECTION 3. The heading to Section 7A, Chapter 421, Acts of
2-16 the 63rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1973 (Article 6252-9b,
2-17 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
2-18 Sec. 7A. REPRESENTATION BY FORMER OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF
2-19 <REGULATORY> AGENCY PROHIBITED
2-20 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-25 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-1 passage, and it is so enacted.