By: Watson, Burton S.B. No. 585

Creighton

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the content of detailed reports filed by registered lobbyists.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 305.0061(a), (b), and (c), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) If a registrant or a person on the registrant's behalf and with the registrant's consent or ratification makes expenditures that exceed $50 [60 percent of the amount of the legislative per diem in] a day for transportation or lodging for a member of the legislative or executive branch or for the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch, the registrant shall also state the following on the report filed under Section 305.006:

(1) the name of the member of the legislative or executive branch in whose behalf the expenditure is made;

(2) the place and date of the transportation or lodging; and

(3) the purpose of the transportation or lodging.

(b) If a registrant or a person on the registrant's behalf and with the registrant's consent or ratification makes expenditures that exceed $50 [60 percent of the amount of the legislative per diem in] a day for food and beverages for a member of the legislative or executive branch or for the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch or makes expenditures that exceed $50 [60 percent of the amount of the legislative per diem in] a day for entertainment for a member of the legislative or executive branch or for the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch, the registrant shall also state the following on the report filed under Section 305.006:

(1) the name of the member of the legislative or executive branch in whose behalf the expenditure is made;

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

(3) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate category of the amount, as determined by the commission.

(c) If a registrant or a person on the registrant's behalf and with the registrant's consent or ratification gives to a member of the legislative or executive branch, or to the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch, a gift or an award or memento, the value of which exceeds $50 per gift, award, or memento, the registrant shall also state the following on the report filed under Section 305.006:

(1) the name of the member of the legislative or executive branch in whose behalf the expenditure is made;

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

(3) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate category of the amount, as determined by the commission.

SECTION 2. Section 305.0061(g), Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a gift, award, or memento given to or expenditures for transportation, lodging, food, beverages, or entertainment made for a member of the legislative or executive branch or the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch on or after the effective date of this Act. A gift, award, or memento given to or an expenditure for transportation, lodging, food, beverages, or entertainment made for a member of the legislative or executive branch or the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch 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 transportation, lodging, food, beverages, or entertainment was made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.