By Maxey H.B. No. 2041
74R6002 MJW-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the application of the state's nepotism prohibitions to
1-3 certain unmarried individuals who reside together.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 573.024, Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 573.024. DETERMINATION OF AFFINITY. (a) Two
1-8 individuals are related to each other by affinity if:
1-9 (1) they are married to each other or reside together
1-10 as unmarried partners who share personal and financial
1-11 responsibilities; or
1-12 (2) the spouse or partner, as described by Subdivision
1-13 (1), of one of the individuals is related by consanguinity to the
1-14 other individual.
1-15 (b) For purposes of this chapter:
1-16 (1) a reference to a husband, wife, or spouse of an
1-17 individual includes a partner described by Subsection (a); and
1-18 (2) a reference to marriage includes a relationship
1-19 between partners described by Subsection (a) unless the partners no
1-20 longer reside together.
1-21 (c) <(b)> The ending of a marriage by divorce or the death
1-22 of a spouse ends relationships by affinity created by that marriage
1-23 unless a child of that marriage is living, in which case the
1-24 marriage is considered to continue as long as a child of that
2-1 marriage lives.
2-2 SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act regarding
2-3 application of the state's nepotism prohibitions applies only to an
2-4 appointment or confirmation of an individual that occurs on or
2-5 after the effective date of this Act.
2-6 (b) An appointment or confirmation of an individual that
2-7 occurred before the effective date of this Act is covered by the
2-8 law in effect on the date on which the appointment or confirmation
2-9 occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that
2-10 purpose.
2-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-16 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-17 passage, and it is so enacted.