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.