BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 710

By: Creighton

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that allowing the creation of a county ethics commission in only certain counties limits the mechanisms available to other counties to enforce ethical standards for certain elected officials, lobbyists, and vendors. S.B. 710 seeks to address this issue by establishing the J. D. Lambright Local Government Ethics Reform Act.

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

S.B. 710 repeals Section 161.001, Local Government Code, which restricts the applicability of provisions that provide for the creation and operation of a county ethics commission to a county that has a population of 800,000 or more, is located on the international border, and, before September 1, 2009, had a county ethics board appointed by the commissioners court.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.