H.B. No. 2281 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the acceptance of gifts and grants by the governor. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 401, Government Code, is amended by 1-5 adding Subchapter C to read as follows: 1-6 SUBCHAPTER C. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 1-7 Sec. 401.031. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS BY 1-8 THE GOVERNOR. (a) The governor may accept gifts, grants, and 1-9 donations of money or property on behalf of the state for any 1-10 lawful public purpose related to the office of governor. 1-11 (b) The governor may decline to accept a gift, grant, or 1-12 donation that is made for a specific purpose if the governor 1-13 determines the gift may not be used reasonably or economically for 1-14 the designated purpose. 1-15 Sec. 401.032. OTHER GIFTS. Unsolicited benefits received by 1-16 the governor that are prohibited under Section 36.08, Penal Code, 1-17 may be donated to a governmental entity that has the authority to 1-18 accept the gift or to a recognized tax-exempt charitable 1-19 organization formed for educational, religious, or scientific 1-20 purposes. 1-21 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-4 passage, and it is so enacted.