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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to ethics training for legislators and certain other state |
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officers and employees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 571, Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Section 571.071 and adding Sections 571.0711 |
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through 571.0714 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 571.071. REQUIRED ETHICS TRAINING[; GUIDELINES]. (a) |
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The following persons must complete the ethics training required by |
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this section: |
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(1) a member or member-elect of the legislature; |
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(2) the director, executive director, commissioner, |
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administrator, or other individual appointed to act as the chief |
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executive or administrative officer of a board, commission, or |
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other agency in the legislative or executive branch of state |
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government; and |
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(3) a full-time, paid employee of the house of |
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representatives, the senate, a member of the legislature, a |
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legislative committee, the governor, or the lieutenant governor. |
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(b) The commission shall[:
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[(1)] provide training [by January of each
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odd-numbered year] for persons required to complete ethics training |
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under this section [members and members-elect of the legislature] |
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concerning compliance with the laws administered and enforced by |
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the commission. |
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(c) A person required to complete ethics training under this |
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section must complete three hours of training every two years. A |
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person must complete the initial training not later than the 90th |
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day after the date the person is first elected or appointed to or |
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employed in a position for which ethics training is required. A |
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person must complete subsequent training not later than the second |
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anniversary of the date the person completed the most recent ethics |
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training under this section. |
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(d) Each board, commission, or other agency described by |
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Subsection (a) shall report to the commission, in accordance with |
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rules adopted by the commission, the appointment or employment of a |
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person required to complete ethics training under Subsection (a)(2) |
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or (3). |
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Sec. 571.0711. FAILURE TO COMPLETE REQUIRED ETHICS |
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TRAINING. (a) A person who does not complete the ethics training |
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required by Section 571.071 is not eligible to receive a salary or |
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wage payment until the person completes the required training. |
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(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date a person is |
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required to complete the ethics training under Section 571.071, the |
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commission shall certify the person's name to the comptroller if |
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the person did not complete the ethics training. Following receipt |
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of certification under this subsection, the comptroller may not |
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issue a warrant or make an electronic transfer representing a |
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salary or wage payment to the person until the commission certifies |
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that the person has completed the training. |
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(c) Not later than the 60th day before the date by which a |
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person is required to complete the ethics training under Section |
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571.071, the commission shall send a written notice to the person |
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that states: |
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(1) that the person is required by law to complete the |
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required amount of ethics training; |
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(2) the date of upcoming ethics training seminars; |
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(3) that the person will not be eligible to receive a |
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salary or wage payment if the person does not complete the required |
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training; and |
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(4) the date by which the person must complete the |
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ethics training. |
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Sec. 571.0712. ETHICS TRAINING FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. The |
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commission shall[; and
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[(2)] provide, in cooperation with state agencies, a |
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program of ethics training for state employees other than those |
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required to complete the ethics training under Section 571.071. |
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Sec. 571.0713. COMPLIANCE GUIDELINES. [(b)] The commission |
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may disseminate, through pamphlets and seminars, explanations and |
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compliance guidelines concerning any law administered and enforced |
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by the commission. |
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Sec. 571.0714. SEMINARS FOR LOBBYISTS. (a) [(c)] The |
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commission may provide a seminar for persons required to register |
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under Chapter 305 that addresses issues involving lobbying, |
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political contributions and expenditures, and other issues as |
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determined by the commission. |
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(b) The commission may charge a fee for attending the |
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seminar in an amount necessary to cover the costs associated with |
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the seminar. |
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SECTION 2. A person who on January 1, 2008, holds an office |
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or employment for which the person is required to complete ethics |
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training under Section 571.071, Government Code, as amended by this |
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Act, must complete the ethics training required by that section not |
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later than April 1, 2008. A person who after January 1, 2008, is |
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elected or appointed to an office or employed in a position for |
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which the person is required to complete ethics training under |
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Section 571.071, Government Code, as amended by this Act, must |
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complete the ethics training required by that section in compliance |
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with that section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2008. |