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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for |
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lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other |
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public entities. |
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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. EXPENDITURES FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. (a) |
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This section applies only to: |
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(1) a political subdivision that imposes a tax; |
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(2) a political subdivision or special district that |
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has the authority to issue bonds, including revenue bonds; |
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(3) a regional mobility authority; |
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(4) a transit authority; |
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(5) a regional tollway authority; |
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(6) a special purpose district; |
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(7) a public institution of higher education; |
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(8) a community college district; |
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(9) a publicly owned utility; or |
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(10) a river authority. |
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(b) A political subdivision or entity described by |
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Subsection (a) may spend money to directly or indirectly influence |
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or attempt to influence the outcome of any legislation pending |
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before the legislature only if the expenditure is authorized by a |
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majority vote of the governing body of the political subdivision or |
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entity in an open meeting of the governing body. The expenditure |
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must be voted on by the governing body as a stand-alone item on the |
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agenda at the meeting. |
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(c) A political subdivision or entity described by |
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Subsection (a) shall report to the Texas Ethics Commission and |
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publish on the political subdivision's or entity's Internet |
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website: |
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(1) the amount of money authorized under Subsection |
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(b) for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing or |
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attempting to influence the outcome of any legislation pending |
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before the legislature; |
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(2) the name of any person required to register under |
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Chapter 305, Government Code, retained or employed by the political |
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subdivision or entity for the purpose described by Subdivision (1); |
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and |
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(3) an electronic copy of any contract for services |
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described by Subdivision (1) entered into by the political |
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subdivision or entity with each person listed under Subdivision |
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(2). |
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(d) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (c), the |
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political subdivision or entity described by Subsection (a) shall |
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report to the Texas Ethics Commission and publish on the political |
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subdivision's or entity's Internet website the amount of public |
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money spent for membership fees and dues of any nonprofit state |
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association or organization of similarly situated political |
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subdivisions or entities that directly or indirectly influences or |
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attempts to influence the outcome of any legislation pending before |
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the legislature. |
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(e) The Texas Ethics Commission shall make available to the |
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public an online searchable database on the commission's Internet |
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website containing the reports submitted to the commission under |
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Subsection (c). |
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(f) If any political subdivision or entity described by |
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Subsection (a) does not comply with the requirements of this |
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section, an interested party is entitled to appropriate injunctive |
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relief to prevent any further activity in violation of this |
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section. For purposes of this subsection, "interested party" means |
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a person who: |
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(1) is a taxpayer of a political subdivision or entity |
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described by Subsection (a); or |
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(2) is served by or receives services from a political |
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subdivision or entity described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |