80R2024 ESH-D

By: Gonzales H.B. No. 1073

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to ethics training for legislators and certain other state officers and employees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 571, Government Code, is amended by amending Section 571.071 and adding Sections 571.0711 through 571.0714 to read as follows:

Sec. 571.071. REQUIRED ETHICS TRAINING[; GUIDELINES]. (a) The following persons must complete the ethics training required by this section:

(1) a member or member-elect of the legislature;

(2) the director, executive director, commissioner, administrator, or other individual appointed to act as the chief executive or administrative officer of a board, commission, or other agency in the legislative or executive branch of state government; and

(3) a full-time, paid employee of the house of representatives, the senate, a member of the legislature, a legislative committee, the governor, or the lieutenant governor.

(b) The commission shall[:

[(1)] provide training [by January of each odd-numbered year] for persons required to complete ethics training under this section [members and members-elect of the legislature] concerning compliance with the laws administered and enforced by the commission.

(c) A person required to complete ethics training under this section must complete three hours of training every two years. A person must complete the initial training not later than the 90th day after the date the person is first elected or appointed to or employed in a position for which ethics training is required. A person must complete subsequent training not later than the second anniversary of the date the person completed the most recent ethics training under this section.

(d) Each board, commission, or other agency described by Subsection (a) shall report to the commission, in accordance with rules adopted by the commission, the appointment or employment of a person required to complete ethics training under Subsection (a)(2) or (3).

Sec. 571.0711. FAILURE TO COMPLETE REQUIRED ETHICS TRAINING. (a) A person who does not complete the ethics training required by Section 571.071 is not eligible to receive a salary or wage payment until the person completes the required training.

(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date a person is required to complete the ethics training under Section 571.071, the commission shall certify the person's name to the comptroller if the person did not complete the ethics training. Following receipt of certification under this subsection, the comptroller may not issue a warrant or make an electronic transfer representing a salary or wage payment to the person until the commission certifies that the person has completed the training.

(c) Not later than the 60th day before the date by which a person is required to complete the ethics training under Section 571.071, the commission shall send a written notice to the person that states:

(1) that the person is required by law to complete the required amount of ethics training;

(2) the date of upcoming ethics training seminars;

(3) that the person will not be eligible to receive a salary or wage payment if the person does not complete the required training; and

(4) the date by which the person must complete the ethics training.

Sec. 571.0712. ETHICS TRAINING FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. The commission shall[; and

[(2)] provide, in cooperation with state agencies, a program of ethics training for state employees other than those required to complete the ethics training under Section 571.071.

Sec. 571.0713. COMPLIANCE GUIDELINES. [(b)] The commission may disseminate, through pamphlets and seminars, explanations and compliance guidelines concerning any law administered and enforced by the commission.

Sec. 571.0714. SEMINARS FOR LOBBYISTS. (a) [(c)] The commission may provide a seminar for persons required to register under Chapter 305 that addresses issues involving lobbying, political contributions and expenditures, and other issues as determined by the commission.

(b) The commission may charge a fee for attending the seminar in an amount necessary to cover the costs associated with the seminar.

SECTION 2. A person who on January 1, 2008, holds an office or employment for which the person is required to complete ethics training under Section 571.071, Government Code, as amended by this Act, must complete the ethics training required by that section not later than April 1, 2008. A person who after January 1, 2008, is elected or appointed to an office or employed in a position for which the person is required to complete ethics training under Section 571.071, Government Code, as amended by this Act, must complete the ethics training required by that section in compliance with that section.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2008.