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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to expenditures for lobbying activities made by certain |
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entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 556.0055, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 556.0055. RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING EXPENDITURES. (a) |
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A political subdivision or external service provider [private
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entity that receives state funds] may not [use the funds to] pay: |
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(1) lobbying expenses incurred by the political |
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subdivision or external service provider [recipient of the funds]; |
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(2) a person or entity that is required to register |
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with the Texas Ethics Commission under Chapter 305; |
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(3) any partner, employee, employer, relative, |
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contractor, consultant, or related entity of a person or entity |
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described by Subdivision (2); or |
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(4) a person or entity that has been hired to represent |
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associations or other entities for the purpose of affecting the |
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outcome of legislation, agency rules, ordinances, or other |
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government policies. |
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(a-1) A private entity that receives state funds may not use |
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the state funds to pay any expenses described by Subsection (a). |
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(b) A political subdivision or [private] entity that |
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violates Subsection (a) or (a-1) is not eligible to receive |
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additional state funds. |
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(c) In this section, "external service provider" means an |
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entity that receives funds from a political subdivision or public |
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entity for the purpose of representing the political subdivision or |
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public entity before a legislative body. |
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SECTION 2. Section 556.0055, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies to an expenditure made on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. An expenditure made before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |