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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 15

By: Davis, Sarah

General Investigating & Ethics

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties are concerned that the absence of a prohibition against former legislators or former elected statewide officeholders engaging in lobbying activities for a period of time following their retirement from legislative or statewide office may adversely affect the public's confidence in state government. H.B. 15 seeks to provide such a prohibition.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 15 amends the Government Code to prohibit a person who is a former member of the legislature or a former holder of an office normally filled by statewide election from engaging in activities that require registration under statutory provisions relating to lobbyist registration before the first anniversary of the first day of the first regular legislative session to convene after the date the person ceases to be a member of the legislature or statewide officeholder, as applicable. The prohibition does not apply to a person who communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action and does not receive compensation other than reimbursement for actual expenses for such communication. The bill creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for a person who violates the bill's provisions. The bill applies only to a member of the legislature or statewide officeholder who ceases to hold office on or after the bill's effective date.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

January 8, 2019.