BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Interested parties note that currently only nonprofits can donate real property to the State of Texas, but they contend that a member of the legislature who owns office space that is in the legislator's district should be allowed to donate that space to the state since the explicit use of this space is to serve the needs of the legislator’s constituents and would save taxpayer money.
H.B. 1256 amends current law relating to the donation of office space owned by a legislator or a legislator's business for use as the legislator's district office.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 572.057, Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows:
(a) Prohibits a member of the legislature, an executive or judicial officer elected in a statewide election, or a business entity in which the legislator or officer has a substantial interest, except as provided by Subsection (d), from leasing any office space or other real property to the state, a state agency, the legislature or a legislative agency, the Supreme Court of Texas, the Court of Criminal Appeals, or a state judicial agency.
(d) Authorizes a member of the legislature or a business entity in which the legislator has a substantial interest to donate the use of office space that the member or entity owns and that is located in the member's district to the house of the legislature in which the member serves to be used for the member's official business. Provides that office space donated under this subsection is not a contribution for purposes of Title 15 (Regulating Political Funds and Campaigns), Election Code. Provides that acceptance of a donation of office space under this subsection is not subject to Section 301.032 (Gifts and Grants).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.