81R2356 ESH-D
 
  By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 610
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to lobbying by former members of the governor's executive
  staff; providing civil and criminal penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 572.067 to read as follows:
         Sec. 572.067.  LOBBYING BY FORMER EMPLOYEE OF GOVERNOR
  RESTRICTED; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Administrative action," "communicates directly
  with," "legislation," "member of the executive branch," and "member
  of the legislative branch" have the meanings assigned by Section
  305.002.
               (2)  "Member of the governor's executive staff" means a
  person employed by the governor acting in the governor's official
  capacity whose regular job duties include:
                     (A)  formulating policy or testifying before and
  meeting with members of the legislature; or
                     (B)  supervising other employees in the
  governor's office whose regular job duties include those described
  by Paragraph (A).
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of
  the governor's executive staff may not, before the first
  anniversary of the date the person's employment by the governor
  ends, engage in activities that require registration under Chapter
  305.
         (c)  Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member of the
  governor's executive staff who:
               (1)  is an officer of or employed by:
                     (A)  a governmental entity; or
                     (B)  a hospital or institution of higher education
  that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a),
  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt
  organization under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of
  1986; and
               (2)  communicates directly with a member of the
  legislative or executive branch only to influence legislation or
  administrative action on behalf of the entity described by
  Subdivision (1) that the person serves or that employs the person.
         (d)  A person who knowingly violates this section commits an
  offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         (e)  The commission may impose a civil penalty of not more
  than $50,000 against a person who knowingly violates this section.
  This subsection is in addition to any other available sanction for a
  violation of this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 572.067, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a member of the governor's executive staff
  who ceases to be a member of the governor's executive staff on or
  after September 1, 2009.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.