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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disclosure and recording of information on the use |
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of money by certain public entities for lobbying activities; |
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creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 556, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 556.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 556.010. DISCLOSURE AND RECORDING OF INFORMATION ON |
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USE OF MONEY FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. (a) This section applies to |
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a public entity, including a political subdivision or a state |
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agency, that receives public money or revenue from this state |
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through an appropriation or other means. |
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(b) Not later than December 31 of each year, a public entity |
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must prepare and submit to the Texas Ethics Commission and post on |
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the entity's Internet website a written report that discloses: |
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(1) the total amount of money spent by the entity |
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during the preceding year to directly or indirectly influence or |
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attempt to influence the outcome of legislation; |
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(2) the name of each person required to register as a |
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lobbyist under Chapter 305 who was compensated by the entity during |
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the preceding year to directly or indirectly influence or attempt |
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to influence the outcome of legislation; |
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(3) if applicable, the name of any organization for |
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which the person described by Subdivision (2) is employed; and |
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(4) each line item in the entity's budget that |
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indicates the amount of money spent by the entity to compensate a |
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person described by Subdivision (2). |
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(c) Before spending money to directly or indirectly |
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influence or attempt to influence the outcome of legislation, the |
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governing body of a public entity shall vote by line item on whether |
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to spend the money. The results of a vote held in accordance with |
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this subsection must be included in the minutes of the meeting at |
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which the vote was held along with, if applicable: |
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(1) the total amount of money authorized to be spent; |
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(2) the name of each person required to register as a |
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lobbyist under Chapter 305 whom the entity plans to compensate as a |
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result of the vote to directly or indirectly influence or attempt to |
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influence the outcome of legislation; and |
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(3) the name of any organization for which the person |
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described by Subdivision (2) is employed. |
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(d) A person designated by a public entity commits an |
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offense by failing to disclose or record information on the use of |
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money to directly or indirectly influence or attempt to influence |
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the outcome of legislation as required by this section. An offense |
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under this subsection is: |
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(1) for the first offense, a misdemeanor punishable by |
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a fine of not more than $100; |
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(2) for the second offense, a misdemeanor punishable |
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by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500; and |
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(3) for the third and any subsequent offense, a Class B |
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misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. Section 556.010, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies to the use of money to directly or indirectly |
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influence or attempt to influence the outcome of legislation on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |