By:  Bivins, Wentworth                                            S.B. No. 254


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to representation of a person for compensation before an 
executive state agency by a member of the legislature.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 572.052, Government 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A member of the legislature may not, for compensation, 
represent another person before a state agency in the executive 
branch of state government unless[:
		[(1)]  the representation[:                 
			[(A)  is made in a proceeding that is adversary in 
nature or in another public hearing that is a matter of record; or
			[(B)]  involves the filing of documents[, 
contacts with the agency, or other relations, that involve only 
ministerial acts on the part of the commission, agency, board, 
department, or officer; and
		[(2)  the member discloses to the agency that the 
member is being compensated for the representation].
	SECTION 2.  Section 572.021, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	Sec. 572.021.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT REQUIRED.  A state 
officer, a partisan or independent candidate for an office as an 
elected officer, and a party chairman shall file with the 
commission a verified financial statement complying with Sections 
572.022 through 572.024 [572.025].
	SECTION 3.  Section 572.025, Government Code, is repealed.                     
	SECTION 4.  This Act applies only to representation before 
an executive state agency for which a member of the legislature is 
hired on or after September 1, 2003.  Representation for which a 
member of the legislature was hired before September 1, 2003, and 
the reporting of that registration are governed by the law in effect 
at the time the member was hired, and that law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.