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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring sexual harassment prevention training and |
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ethics training to register as a lobbyist. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 305.005(f), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(f) The registration must be written and verified and must |
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contain: |
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(1) the registrant's full name and address; |
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(2) the registrant's normal business, business phone |
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number, and business address; |
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(3) the full name and address of each person: |
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(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the |
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registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative |
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or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative |
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action; and |
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(B) on whose behalf the registrant has |
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communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive |
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branch to influence legislation or administrative action; |
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(4) the subject matter of the legislation or of the |
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administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's |
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direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive |
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branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other |
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administrative designation of the administrative action; |
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(5) for each person employed or retained by the |
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registrant for the purpose of assisting in direct communication |
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with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence |
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legislation or administrative action: |
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(A) the full name, business address, and |
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occupation of the person; and |
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(B) the subject matter of the legislation or of |
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the administrative action to which the person's activities |
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reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the |
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docket number or other administrative designation of the |
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administrative action; [and] |
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(6) the amount of compensation or reimbursement paid |
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by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant |
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for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the |
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legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the registrant |
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communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive |
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branch; |
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(7) a certificate evidencing completion of a sexual |
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harassment prevention training course in the previous two years, as |
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required by Section 305.0052; and |
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(8) a certificate evidencing completion of an ethics |
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training course in the previous two years, as required by Section |
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305.0053. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 305, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 305.0052 and 305.0053 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 305.0052. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING. (a) |
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Each person required to register under this chapter shall attend a |
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sexual harassment prevention training course every two years, as |
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approved by the commission, and shall submit to the commission a |
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certificate of completion of the course. |
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(b) The certificate of completion must be in a form approved |
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by the commission. |
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(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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Sec. 305.0053. ETHICS TRAINING. (a) Each person required |
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to register under this chapter shall attend an ethics training |
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course every two years, as approved by the commission, and shall |
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submit to the commission a certificate of completion of the course. |
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(b) The certificate of completion must be in a form approved |
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by the commission. |
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(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas Ethics |
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Commission shall adopt rules as required by Sections 305.0052 and |
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305.0053, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an initial registration or renewal registration under Chapter |
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305, Government Code, filed on or after January 1, 2022. An initial |
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registration or renewal registration under Chapter 305, Government |
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Code, filed before January 1, 2022, is governed by the law in effect |
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when that registration is filed, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |