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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain individuals employed to assist a registered |
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lobbyist. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 305.005, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (f) and (j) and adding Subsection (l) to read |
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as follows: |
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(f) The registration must be written and verified and must |
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contain: |
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(1) the registrant's full name and address; |
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(2) the registrant's normal business, business phone |
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number, and business address; |
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(3) the full name and address of each person: |
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(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the |
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registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative |
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or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative |
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action; and |
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(B) on whose behalf the registrant has |
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communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive |
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branch to influence legislation or administrative action; |
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(4) the subject matter of the legislation or of the |
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administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's |
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direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive |
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branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other |
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administrative designation of the administrative action; |
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(5) for each person employed or retained by the |
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registrant or by the person described by Subdivision (3) for the |
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purpose of assisting the registrant in direct communication with a |
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member of the legislative or executive branch to influence |
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legislation or administrative action: |
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(A) the full name, business address, and |
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occupation of the person; and |
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(B) the subject matter of the legislation or of |
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the administrative action to which the person's activities |
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reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the |
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docket number or other administrative designation of the |
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administrative action; and |
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(6) the amount of compensation or reimbursement paid |
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by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant |
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for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the |
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legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the registrant |
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communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive |
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branch. |
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(j) If the person described by Subsection (f)(3) is a |
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business entity engaged in the representation of clients for the |
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purpose of influencing legislation or administrative action, the |
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registrant shall give the information required by that subdivision |
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for each client on whose behalf the registrant, or a person employed |
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or retained to assist the registrant as described by Subsection |
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(f)(5), communicated directly with a member of the legislative or |
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executive branch. |
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(l) A registrant is not required, under Subsection (f)(5) or |
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(j), to include information concerning another person in a |
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registration if: |
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(1) the other person is also a registrant; and |
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(2) any client required to be included for the other |
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person in the registrant's registration under Subsection (f)(3) or |
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(j) is included in the other person's registration. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 305, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 305.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 305.012. SEARCHABLE DATABASE. The commission shall |
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maintain and make available through the Internet a searchable |
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database that includes, for each registrant: |
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(1) the name of each person employed or retained to |
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assist the registrant as described by Section 305.005(f)(5); and |
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(2) each client on behalf of whom the person described |
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by Subdivision (1) communicated directly with a member of the |
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legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or |
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administrative action. |
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SECTION 3. Section 305.005, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to a registration or registration renewal |
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required to be filed under Chapter 305, Government Code, on or after |
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September 1, 2009. A registration or registration renewal required |
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to be filed under Chapter 305, Government Code, before September 1, |
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2009, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before |
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September 1, 2009, and that law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. The Texas Ethics Commission shall establish the |
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searchable database required by Section 305.012, Government Code, |
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as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |