88R2898 CJD-D
 
  By: Meza H.B. No. 489
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to restrictions on certain contributions and lobbyist
  compensation by persons appointed to public office by the governor;
  creating a criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 601, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 601.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 601.010.  CERTAIN DONORS INELIGIBLE FOR GUBERNATORIAL
  APPOINTMENTS; CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOBBYIST COMPENSATION BY
  GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES RESTRICTED; OFFENSE. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Communicates directly with," "matter," "member
  of the executive branch," and "member of the legislative branch"
  have the meanings assigned by Section 305.002.
               (2)  "Political contribution" and "specific-purpose
  committee" have the meanings assigned by Section 251.001, Election
  Code.
         (b)  An individual is ineligible to serve as an officer
  appointed by the governor if during the year preceding the date of
  appointment the individual made political contributions that in the
  aggregate exceeded $2,500 to:
               (1)  the governor; or
               (2)  a specific-purpose committee supporting the
  governor as a candidate or assisting the governor as an
  officeholder.
         (c)  An individual serving as an officer appointed by the
  governor may not during any single year in which the individual
  serves in that office make political contributions that in the
  aggregate exceed $2,500 to the governor or a specific-purpose
  committee supporting the governor as a candidate or assisting the
  governor as an officeholder. An individual who violates this
  subsection is liable in damages to this state in the amount of
  triple the amount of contributions made in a single year that exceed
  the limit prescribed by this subsection.
         (d)  For purposes of Subsection (b) or (c), a political
  contribution made by the spouse or dependent child of an individual
  or a political contribution from an organization made in the
  individual's name and with the individual's consent is considered
  to be a contribution made by the individual.
         (e)  Before taking office, an individual appointed by the
  governor must sign an attestation that during the year preceding
  the appointment the individual, the individual's spouse or
  dependent child, or an organization in the individual's name and
  with the individual's consent did not make political contributions
  exceeding $2,500 to the governor or a specific-purpose committee
  supporting the governor as a candidate or assisting the governor as
  an officeholder.
         (f)  Before taking office, an individual appointed by the
  governor must sign an attestation that the individual or a business
  entity acting at the direction of the individual will not
  compensate a person required to register as a lobbyist under
  Chapter 305 for communicating directly with a member of the
  legislative or executive branch on a matter affecting the
  individual's state agency and will comply with any political
  contribution limits under Subsection (b). An individual appointed
  by the governor who violates an attestation under this subsection,
  a business entity acting at the direction of the individual that
  violates an attestation under this subsection, or a person required
  to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 who accepts
  compensation made in violation of an attestation under this
  subsection commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is
  a Class A misdemeanor.
         SECTION 2.  Section 601.010, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to an appointment made on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.