84R9258 MK-D

By: Galindo H.B. No. 1931

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reporting requirements for gift or entertainment expenditures made by a person for a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 11.066 to read as follows:

Sec. 11.066. REPORTING OF GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED TO TRUSTEES. (a) A person who gives a gift, award, or memento, the value of which exceeds the amount for which detailed reporting is required under Section 305.0061(c), Government Code, to a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district must file a report with the Texas Ethics Commission that includes the following:

(1) the person's full name and address;

(2) the name under which the person normally conducts business, the person's business phone number, and the person's business address;

(3) if applicable, the full name and address of each person:

(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the person to communicate directly with a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district to influence actions taken by the board of trustees; and

(B) on whose behalf the person has communicated directly with a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district to influence actions taken by the board of trustees;

(4) the name of the member of the board of trustees in whose behalf the expenditure is made;

(5) a general description of the gift, award, or memento; and

(6) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate category of the amount, as determined by the Texas Ethics Commission under Section 305.006(b), Government Code.

(b) A person who makes an expenditure that exceeds the amount for which detailed reporting is required under Section 305.0061(b), Government Code, for entertainment for a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district must file a report with the Texas Ethics Commission that includes the following:

(1) the person's full name and address;

(2) the name under which the person normally conducts business, the person's business phone number, and the person's business address;

(3) if applicable, the full name and address of each person:

(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the person to communicate directly with a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district to influence actions taken by the board of trustees; and

(B) on whose behalf the person has communicated directly with a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district to influence actions taken by the board of trustees;

(4) the name of the member of the board of trustees in whose behalf the expenditure is made;

(5) the place and date of the expenditure; and

(6) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate category of the amount, as determined by the Texas Ethics Commission under Section 305.006(b), Government Code.

(c) This section does not apply to a gift, award, or memento given to or expenditures for entertainment made for a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district on account of kinship or a personal, professional, or business relationship independent of the official status of the member.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a gift, award, or memento given to or expenditures for entertainment made for a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district on or after the effective date of this Act. A gift, award, or memento given to or an expenditure for entertainment made for a member of the board of trustees of an independent school district before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the gift, award, or memento was given, or the date the expenditure for entertainment was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.