78R4324 KEG-D

By:  Ratliff                                                      S.B. No. 755



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a disclosure of certain employment by an executive 
committee member of the Office of Rural Community Affairs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 487, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 487.059 to read as follows:
	Sec. 487.059.  DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT.  (a)  In 
this section, "monetary award" means any money, fund, stipend, 
grant, scholarship, loan, or loan guarantee awarded under this 
chapter.
	(b)  This section applies to a member of the executive 
committee who is employed by:
		(1)  an entity that applies for a monetary award or 
offers to enter into a contract with the office; or
		(2)  an entity that is under common ownership or 
governance with or otherwise affiliated with an entity that applies 
for a monetary award or offers to enter into a contract with the 
office.
	(c)  The committee member shall, before a vote on the 
monetary award or contract, disclose the fact of the member's 
employment by the entity.  The executive committee shall enter the 
disclosure into the minutes of the meeting at which a vote on the 
monetary award or contract is taken.  The executive committee 
member may not vote on or otherwise participate in a discussion or 
any other activity that relates to awarding the monetary award or 
contract.
	(d)  If the executive committee member does not comply with 
this section, the entity is not eligible to be awarded the monetary 
award or contract.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.