By: Menéndez,et al. S.B. No. 2233

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the completion of sexual harassment prevention training and ethics training to register as a lobbyist.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 305.005(f), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(f) The registration must be written and verified and must contain:

(1) the registrant's full name and address;

(2) the registrant's normal business, business phone number, and business address;

(3) the full name and address of each person:

(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action; and

(B) on whose behalf the registrant has communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action;

(4) the subject matter of the legislation or of the administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other administrative designation of the administrative action;

(5) for each person employed or retained by the registrant for the purpose of assisting in direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action:

(A) the full name, business address, and occupation of the person; and

(B) the subject matter of the legislation or of the administrative action to which the person's activities reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the docket number or other administrative designation of the administrative action; [and]

(6) the amount of compensation or reimbursement paid by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the registrant communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch;

(7) a certificate evidencing completion of a sexual harassment prevention training course in the previous two years, as required by Section 305.0052; and

(8) a certificate evidencing completion of an ethics training course in the previous two years, as required by Section 305.0053.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 305, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 305.0052 and 305.0053 to read as follows:

Sec. 305.0052. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING. (a) Each individual required to register under this chapter shall attend a sexual harassment prevention training course every two years, as approved by the commission, and shall submit to the commission a certificate of completion of the course.

(b) The certificate of completion must be in a form approved by the commission.

(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 305.0053. ETHICS TRAINING. (a) Each individual required to register under this chapter shall attend an ethics training course every two years, as approved by the commission, and shall submit to the commission a certificate of completion of the course.

(b) The certificate of completion must be in a form approved by the commission.

(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas Ethics Commission shall adopt rules as required by Sections 305.0052 and 305.0053, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. Section 305.005, Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a registration required to be filed under that section on or after January 1, 2022.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.