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.