BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 197
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, citizenship is not a requirement for employment by the State of Texas. As a result, a potential conflict of interest exists when a non-citizen employee is required to represent the State of Texas in policy matters with the country of which the employee is a citizen.
As proposed, S.B. 197 prohibits state employees who hold policy-making positions or positions that have broad discretion in the execution of public policy from representing the state in matters that concern the country of which the state employee is a citizen.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 651, Government Code, by adding Section 651.010, as follows:
Sec. 651.010. REPRESENTATION OF THE STATE BY CERTAIN FOREIGN CITIZENS. Specifies that this section only applies to a state officer or employee who has policy-making responsibility or broad discretion in executing public policy. Prohibits a state officer or employee who is not a citizen of the United States from representing the state in matters concerning the government of the current home country of the state officer or employee.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.