BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 1422

83R6867 EES-F

By: Geren; Canales (Eltife)

 

State Affairs

 

4/30/2013

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

A registered lobbyist who also acts as a campaign consultant is not currently required to disclose information related to the lobbyist’s consulting activities.  This lack of disclosure can potentially lead to conflicts of interest between lobbyists and members of the legislative body and can breed distrust with the public.

 

H.B. 1422 seeks to address this issue and promote transparency by expanding lobbyist disclosure requirements.  Specifically, H.B. 1422 amends the Government Code to require a lobbyist to include on the lobbyist’s registration form the name of any lawmaker who compensates or reimburses the registrant from campaign funds for services, including political consulting services.

 

H.B. 1422 amends current law relating to the reporting in a lobbyist registration of certain persons from whom compensation or reimbursement is received.

 

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 305.005, Government Code, by adding Subsection (m) to require that the lobbyist registration form include the full name and address of each person who compensates or reimburses the registrant or person acting as an agent for the registrant for services, including political consulting services, rendered by the registrant from a political contribution as defined by Title 15 (Regulating Political Funds and Campaigns), Election Code; interest received from a political contribution as defined by Title 15, Election Code; or an asset purchased with a political contribution as defined by Title 15, Election Code.

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that Section 305.005(m), Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to compensation or reimbursement received by a registrant under Chapter 305 (Registration of Lobbyists), Government Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2013.