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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to restrictions on certain lobbyist expenditures for meals |
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provided to legislative employees; providing a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 305, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 305.0241 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 305.0241. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON EXPENDITURES FOR |
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LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES. (a) Regardless of whether the expenditure |
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may otherwise be made under this chapter, a person registered under |
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Section 305.005 or a person on the registrant's behalf and with the |
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registrant's consent or ratification may not make an expenditure |
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for food or beverages provided as a meal to an employee of the |
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legislature if the expenditure exceeds: |
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(1) $15, as adjusted under Subsection (c), for a |
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breakfast or lunch; or |
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(2) $20, as adjusted under Subsection (c), for a |
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dinner. |
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(b) A person registered under Section 305.005 or a person on |
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the registrant's behalf and with the registrant's consent or |
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ratification may not make an expenditure for an alcoholic beverage |
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provided to an employee of the legislature unless the expenditure |
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may otherwise be made under this chapter and the beverage is |
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provided at a reception or similar event at which 30 or more persons |
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are present. |
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(c) Not later than January 1 of each year, the comptroller |
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by rule shall adjust the amounts stated in Subsections (a)(1) and |
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(2) to reflect the estimated rate of inflation in this state, as |
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determined by the comptroller. |
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SECTION 2. Section 305.031, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally |
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or knowingly violates a provision of this chapter other than |
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Section 305.022, 305.0241, or 305.028. An offense under this |
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subsection is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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(c) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally |
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or knowingly violates Section 305.0241. An offense under this |
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subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. If conduct constituting an |
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offense under this subsection also constitutes an offense under |
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another law, the actor may be prosecuted under this subsection or |
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the other law. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |