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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disclosure of public money spent by certain |
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political subdivisions for lobbying activities in a comprehensive |
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annual financial report. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 140.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 140.012. DISCLOSURE IN FINANCIAL REPORT OF AMOUNTS |
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SPENT ON LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. (a) This section applies only to: |
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(1) a political subdivision that imposes a tax; or |
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(2) a regional mobility authority, toll road |
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authority, or transit authority. |
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(b) A political subdivision or authority that uses any |
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public money to directly or indirectly influence or attempt to |
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influence the outcome of any legislation pending before the |
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legislature must disclose on any comprehensive annual financial |
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report required to be prepared by the political subdivision or |
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authority: |
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(1) the total amount spent during the fiscal year to |
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directly or indirectly influence or attempt to influence the |
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outcome of legislation; and |
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(2) each person required to register as a lobbyist |
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under Chapter 305, Government Code, who was compensated by the |
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political subdivision or authority during the fiscal year to |
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directly or indirectly influence or attempt to influence the |
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outcome of legislation. |
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(c) Subsection (b) does not require a political subdivision |
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or authority to prepare a separate comprehensive annual financial |
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report for the disclosures under that subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Section 140.012, Local Government Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a fiscal year of an entity required to |
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file a report that begins on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. Section 140.012, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, |
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does not apply to a fiscal year of an entity that begins before the |
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effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |