BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 505
	By: Geren et al. (Taylor, Van)
	State Affairs
	5/17/2017
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Interested parties observe that elected officials should not be allowed to use their campaign donations for lobbying purposes immediately following their retirement from public office. These parties observe that this practice allows retired officeholders to personally and immediately capitalize on donations received while serving in elected office. This benefit, interested parties note, creates the appearance of impropriety, detracting from the public's trust and confidence in public office.

 

H.B. 505 prohibits a retired officeholder who is a registered lobbyist from making a political contribution using their campaign account following their departure from office. This change prohibits former elected officials and candidates from using their campaign accounts for lobbying purposes following their retirement from public office.

 

H.B. 505 amends current law relating to restrictions on lobbyist expenditures from certain political contributions.

 

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 305, Government Code, by adding Section 305.029, as follows:

 

Sec. 305.029. EXPENDITURES FROM POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS RESTRICTED. (a) Defines "political contribution," "political committee," and "political expenditure."

 

(b) Prohibits a person required to register under this chapter (Registration of Lobbyists) from, notwithstanding any other provision of law, at any time following the date the last term for which the person was elected ends, knowingly making or authorizing, from political contributions accepted by the person as a candidate or officeholder, a political expenditure that is a political contribution to another candidate, officeholder, or political committee.

 

(c) Provides that this section does not prohibit a person from making a political contribution or political expenditure in support of the person's own candidacy.

 

SECTION 2. Provides that Section 305.029, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to an expenditure made on or after January 8, 2019, from funds accepted as a political contribution, regardless of the date the funds were accepted.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: January 8, 2019.