| TO: | Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, House Committee on Elections |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3178 by Lewis (Relating to expenditures and the reporting of those expenditures by lobbyists; providing criminal penalties.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend Government Code relating to expenditures and the reporting of those expenditures by lobbyists. Specifically, the bill would lower the calendar year expenditure limits by lobbyists for entertainment and gifts, from $500 to $200 and $100, respectively. The bill would also lower the expenditure limit by a lobbyist for an award or memento from $500 to $200. In addition, the bill would prohibit expenditures by lobbyists that exceed $50 per meal or that occur when the lobbyist is not present when the food or beverage is served.
It is anticipated that any additional costs associated with implementation of the legislation could be absorbed within existing resources. The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.
| Source Agencies: | 356 Texas Ethics Commission
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JT, MS, DEH
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