By Krusee H.B. No. 97 75R833 ESH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to lobbying by former legislators; providing a criminal 1-3 penalty. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 572.059 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 572.059. LOBBYING BY FORMER LEGISLATOR; CRIMINAL 1-8 OFFENSE. (a) A former member of the legislature may not, before 1-9 the second anniversary of the date the person ceases to be a 1-10 member, engage in activities that require registration under 1-11 Chapter 305. 1-12 (b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this 1-13 section. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. 1-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-15 SECTION 3. Section 572.059, Government Code, as added by 1-16 this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature who ceases to 1-17 be a member on or after the effective date of this Act. 1-18 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.