By: King of Taylor H.B. No. 3715
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain individuals employed to assist a registered
  lobbyist.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 305.005, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (f) and (j) and adding Subsection (l) to read
  as follows:
         (f)  The registration must be written and verified and must
  contain:
               (1)  the registrant's full name and address;
               (2)  the registrant's normal business, business phone
  number, and business address;
               (3)  the full name and address of each person:
                     (A)  who reimburses, retains, or employs the
  registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative
  or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative
  action; and
                     (B)  on whose behalf the registrant has
  communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive
  branch to influence legislation or administrative action;
               (4)  the subject matter of the legislation or of the
  administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's
  direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive
  branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other
  administrative designation of the administrative action;
               (5)  for each person employed or retained by the
  registrant or by the person described by Subdivision (3) for the
  purpose of assisting the registrant in direct communication with a
  member of the legislative or executive branch to influence
  legislation or administrative action:
                     (A)  the full name, business address, and
  occupation of the person; and
                     (B)  the subject matter of the legislation or of
  the administrative action to which the person's activities
  reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the
  docket number or other administrative designation of the
  administrative action; and
               (6)  the amount of compensation or reimbursement paid
  by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant
  for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the
  legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the registrant
  communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive
  branch.
         (j)  If the person described by Subsection (f)(3) is a
  business entity engaged in the representation of clients for the
  purpose of influencing legislation or administrative action, the
  registrant shall give the information required by that subdivision
  for each client on whose behalf the registrant, or a person employed
  or retained to assist the registrant as described by Subsection
  (f)(5), communicated directly with a member of the legislative or
  executive branch.
         (l)  A registrant is not required, under Subsection (f)(5) or
  (j), to include information concerning another person in a
  registration if:
               (1)  the other person is also a registrant; and
               (2)  any client required to be included for the other
  person in the registrant's registration under Subsection (f)(3) or
  (j) is included in the other person's registration.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 305, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 305.012 to read as follows:
         Sec. 305.012.  SEARCHABLE DATABASE.  The commission shall
  maintain and make available through the Internet a searchable
  database that includes, for each registrant:
               (1)  the name of each person employed or retained to
  assist the registrant as described by Section 305.005(f)(5); and
               (2)  each client on behalf of whom the person described
  by Subdivision (1) communicated directly with a member of the
  legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or
  administrative action.
         SECTION 3.  Section 305.005, Government Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to a registration or registration renewal
  required to be filed under Chapter 305, Government Code, on or after
  September 1, 2009. A registration or registration renewal required
  to be filed under Chapter 305, Government Code, before September 1,
  2009, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before
  September 1, 2009, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 4.  The Texas Ethics Commission shall establish the
  searchable database required by Section 305.012, Government Code,
  as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2010.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.