H.B. 51 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 51
By: Hill
State Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, legislators are permitted to represent another person,
for compensation, before an executive branch agency under certain
circumstances.  Legislators are required to disclose such employment in
filings with the Ethics Commission.  However, some have criticized this
practice as creating the potential for conflicts of interest.  The purpose
of House Bill 51 is to prohibit legislators from representing another
person for compensation before a state agency in the executive branch. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant
any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department,
agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 51 amends Section 572.052(a) of the Government Code to prohibit
a member of the legislature from representing another person for
compensation before a state agency in the executive branch of state
government.  The bill also repeals Section 572.025 of the Government Code,
which currently requires members of the legislature to disclose such
compensation on their financial statements. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.