BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4623

By: Meyer

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recently it was reported that the U.S. Congress established a fund that used taxpayer dollars to settle claims of sexual harassment or inappropriate workplace conduct committed by members of Congress. It has been suggested that this is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and that the state should ensure that such a fund is not set up for state lawmakers. H.B. 4623 seeks to prohibit the creation of such a fund and the use of state money for such purposes and to make elected officials or the officials' staff personally financially liable for any claim that arises from their misconduct.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4623 amends the Government Code to prohibit the legislature from creating a fund or permitting the use of state money by a state elected official or the official's staff to settle or otherwise pay a sexual harassment claim made against the official or staff member. The bill makes a state elected official or an official's staff personally liable for any claim due to their misconduct.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.