78R5796 DLF-D

By:  Rodriguez                                                    H.B. No. 2814



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to legislative lobbying by a housing authority; imposing a 
criminal penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 392, Local Government 
Code, is amended by adding Section 392.067 to read as follows:
	Sec. 392.067.  RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING EXPENDITURES; 
OFFENSE.  (a) A housing authority may not use any money under the 
control of the authority to pay:
		(1)  lobbying expenses incurred by the authority;                      
		(2)  a person that is required to register with the 
Texas Ethics Commission under Chapter 305, Government Code;
		(3)  any partner, employee, employer, relative, 
contractor, consultant, or related entity of a person described by 
Subdivision (2); or
		(4)  a person that has been hired to represent 
associations or other entities for the purpose of affecting the 
outcome of legislation, agency rules, ordinances, or other 
government policies.
	(b)  A person who violates Subsection (a) commits an offense. 
An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
	(c)  Section 305.026, Government Code,  does not apply to a 
housing authority.
	(d)  The restriction imposed by this section is in addition 
to the restriction imposed by Section 556.0055, Government Code.
	SECTION 2.  (a) The change in law made by this Act applies 
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 
Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before 
the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs 
before that date.
	(b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this 
Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.