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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reporting requirements for gift or entertainment |
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expenditures made by a person for a member of the board of trustees |
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of an independent school district. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 11.066 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.066. REPORTING OF GIFTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED |
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TO TRUSTEES. (a) A person who gives a gift, award, or memento, the |
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value of which exceeds the amount for which detailed reporting is |
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required under Section 305.0061(c), Government Code, to a member of |
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the board of trustees of an independent school district must file a |
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report with the Texas Ethics Commission that includes the |
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following: |
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(1) the person's full name and address; |
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(2) the name under which the person normally conducts |
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business, the person's business phone number, and the person's |
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business address; |
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(3) if applicable, the full name and address of each |
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person: |
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(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the |
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person to communicate directly with a member of the board of |
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trustees of an independent school district to influence actions |
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taken by the board of trustees; and |
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(B) on whose behalf the person has communicated |
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directly with a member of the board of trustees of an independent |
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school district to influence actions taken by the board of |
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trustees; |
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(4) the name of the member of the board of trustees in |
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whose behalf the expenditure is made; |
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(5) a general description of the gift, award, or |
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memento; and |
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(6) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate |
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category of the amount, as determined by the Texas Ethics |
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Commission under Section 305.006(b), Government Code. |
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(b) A person who makes an expenditure that exceeds the |
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amount for which detailed reporting is required under Section |
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305.0061(b), Government Code, for entertainment for a member of the |
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board of trustees of an independent school district must file a |
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report with the Texas Ethics Commission that includes the |
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following: |
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(1) the person's full name and address; |
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(2) the name under which the person normally conducts |
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business, the person's business phone number, and the person's |
|
business address; |
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(3) if applicable, the full name and address of each |
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person: |
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(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the |
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person to communicate directly with a member of the board of |
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trustees of an independent school district to influence actions |
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taken by the board of trustees; and |
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(B) on whose behalf the person has communicated |
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directly with a member of the board of trustees of an independent |
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school district to influence actions taken by the board of |
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trustees; |
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(4) the name of the member of the board of trustees in |
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whose behalf the expenditure is made; |
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(5) the place and date of the expenditure; and |
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(6) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate |
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category of the amount, as determined by the Texas Ethics |
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Commission under Section 305.006(b), Government Code. |
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(c) This section does not apply to a gift, award, or memento |
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given to or expenditures for entertainment made for a member of the |
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board of trustees of an independent school district on account of |
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kinship or a personal, professional, or business relationship |
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independent of the official status of the member. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a gift, award, or memento given to or expenditures for |
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entertainment made for a member of the board of trustees of an |
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independent school district on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A gift, award, or memento given to or an expenditure for |
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entertainment made for a member of the board of trustees of an |
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independent school district before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect on the date the gift, award, or |
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memento was given, or the date the expenditure for entertainment |
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was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |