80R7089 ESH-D

By: Truitt H.B. No. 1735

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to ethics training for legislators.

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, 571.0712, and 571.0713 to read as follows:

Sec. 571.071. REQUIRED ETHICS TRAINING FOR LEGISLATORS[; GUIDELINES]. (a) A member or member-elect of the legislature must complete the ethics training required by this section.

(b) The commission shall[:

[(1)] provide training [by January of each odd-numbered year] for members and members-elect of the legislature concerning compliance with the laws administered and enforced by the commission. The training must:

(1) focus primarily on compliance by a member of or candidate for the legislature with requirements for reporting political contributions and expenditures under Chapter 254, Election Code;

(2) be designed to use the best practices developed for training programs of other state agencies, including the training provided by the attorney general under Section 552.012;

(3) be delivered through a variety of means, including seminars, digital versatile discs (DVDs), transmission over the Internet, or in another appropriate electronic manner;

(4) subject to Subsection (d), be regularly revised to reflect changes in law; and

(5) include a mechanism by which a person required to complete ethics training under this section may provide to the commission the person's evaluation of the understandability and usefulness of the training.

(c) A person required to complete ethics training under this section must complete a three-hour initial training session not later than the 90th day after the date the person is first elected or appointed to the legislature.

(d) Not later than 90 days after the effective date of any substantive changes, as determined by the commission, in the law described by Subsection (b)(1), the commission shall provide revised training related to the changes. A person required to complete ethics training under this section must complete the revised training not later than the 60th day after the date the commission makes the revised training available.

(e) After the initial training session under Subsection (c), a person must complete a one-hour training session not later than the second anniversary of the date the person completed the most recent training session under this section, including training provided under Subsection (d).

Sec. 571.0711. ETHICS TRAINING FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. The commission shall[; and

[(2)] provide, in cooperation with state agencies, a program of ethics training for state employees.

Sec. 571.0712. 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. 571.0713. 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, serves as a member of the legislature must complete the ethics training required by Section 571.071, Government Code, as amended by this Act, not later than April 1, 2008. A person who after January 1, 2008, is elected or appointed to the legislature must complete the ethics training required by Section 571.071, Government Code, as amended by this Act, in compliance with that section.

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