85R1198 ATP-F

By: Taylor of Collin S.B. No. 137

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to lobbying activities engaged in by state employees.

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

SECTION 1. Section 556.005, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a) A state agency may not use appropriated money to employ, as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person who is:

(1) required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist;

(2) required by a county, municipality, or special district law to register as a lobbyist, as defined by the county, municipality, or special district law;

(3) compensated to communicate with one or more members of a local governmental entity to influence the entity's policy or administrative action on behalf of another person, other than a state agency, by whom the person is compensated or reimbursed;

(4) required to register as a lobbyist under 2 U.S.C. Section 1603; or

(5) compensated to communicate with one or more members of a foreign governmental entity to influence legislative, executive, or administrative action on behalf of another person by whom the person is compensated or reimbursed.

(a-1) Except for an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, a state agency may not use any money under its control to employ or contract with an individual who is required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this Act. Conduct engaged in before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the conduct occurred, regardless of when a person was compensated for the conduct, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.