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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reporting by local governmental entities of |
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expenditures for lobbying. |
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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 140.0051 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 140.0051. STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR LOBBYING |
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DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. (a) In |
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this section, "local governmental entity" means a county, |
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municipality, school district, or hospital district. The term does |
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not include a junior college district. |
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(b) The governing body of a local governmental entity shall |
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submit to the Texas Ethics Commission a statement that clearly and |
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concisely shows the local governmental entity's total expenditures |
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for lobbying activities during a regular legislative session, |
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including: |
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(1) the full name, business name, and business address |
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of each person required to register under Chapter 305, Government |
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Code, with whom the local governmental entity has contracted to |
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provide lobbying services; and |
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(2) the total contract amount paid to each person |
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required to register under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of |
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activities on behalf of the local governmental entity. |
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(c) A local governmental entity shall file two statements |
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for each regular legislative session as follows: |
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(1) the first statement shall be filed not later than |
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the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year and shall |
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include all amounts contracted for by the local governmental entity |
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for lobbying activities regarding the regular legislative session |
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before the date the statement is filed; and |
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(2) the second statement shall be filed not later than |
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the 21st day after the date of final adjournment of the regular |
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legislative session and shall include all amounts contracted for by |
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the local governmental entity for lobbying activities after the |
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filing of the first statement. |
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(d) A local governmental entity shall post each statement |
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filed under this section on an easily accessible page on the |
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entity's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |