Amend HR 3 (the Housekeeping Resolution) by striking SECTION 6.02 (page 24, line 6, through page 25, line 4) and substituting the following:

SECTION 6.02.  USE OF HOUSE FUNDS, EMPLOYEES, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES. (a) Except as expressly authorized by this section, funds appropriated to the house may not be expended in support of a caucus, employees compensated from funds appropriated to the house may not perform caucus activities, and state-owned equipment [and facilities] may not be used in the performance of caucus activities.

(b)  An individual member of the house may authorize the use of state equipment assigned to the member's office and the performance of caucus activities by an employee of the member only if:

(1)  the member determines that the activities support the member's official duties;

(2)  the caucus does not endorse or support a candidate for public office; and

(3)  the caucus does not accept contributions from nonmembers that are in violation of Section 253.0341, Election Code [required by law to be reported to the Texas Ethics Commission].

(c)  A caucus may use the meeting rooms of the Capitol and Capitol extension to conduct meetings of the caucus membership, [or] to host public forums on matters of interest to the caucus, or to facilitate the work of the caucus or a caucus employee.

(d)  An individual member may house, in the state office space assigned to the member, caucus employees or equipment owned by a caucus. A member may retain in the member's office a telephone, facsimile machine, or computer owned by the caucus for purposes of the member's communication with the caucus or caucus employees.