By: Cain S.B. No. 659 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to authorizing certain state agencies and state employees 1-2 to participate in charitable activities. 1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by 1-4 adding Section 493.023 to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 493.023. CHARITABLE FUND-RAISING. (a) Under policies 1-6 established by the department, a department employee is entitled to 1-7 participate in fund-raising activities conducted on department 1-8 property for the benefit of an eligible charitable organization. 1-9 The department shall adopt policies under this section which 1-10 address: 1-11 (1) minimum qualifications of eligible charitable 1-12 organizations; 1-13 (2) limitations on the use of funds; 1-14 (3) handling and distribution of the proceeds of 1-15 fund-raising activity to eligible charitable organizations located 1-16 in the county where the fund-raising takes place; and 1-17 (4) ensuring that participation in fund-raising is 1-18 voluntary and not coercive. 1-19 (b) Funds collected under this section are not subject to 1-20 Section 404.094. 1-21 (c) Policies adopted under this section may not affect the 1-22 department's participation in the state employees charitable 1-23 campaign under Subchapter H, Chapter 659. 1-24 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-1 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.