By: Harrison H.B. No. 3017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the required posting by governmental entities of employee contracts and compensation on entity Internet websites.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 620 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 620. COMPENSATION OF GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY EMPLOYEES

Sec. 620.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Total Compensation" means the salary, wages, and any other thing of value that an employee receives for work performed by the employee.

(2) "Governmental entity" means:

(A) a state agency in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government; or

(B) a political subdivision of this state, including a county, municipality, school district, hospital district, metropolitan transit authority, conservation and reclamation district, or any other special purpose district.

Sec. 620.002. REQUIRED POSTING OF EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION. Except for information excepted from required disclosure under Chapter 552, each governmental entity shall:

(1) post on the entity's publicly available Internet website:

(A) any employment contract the entity enters into with an entity employee; and

(B) the total compensation paid to each entity employee; and

(2) at least annually update the information required under Subdivision (1).

Sec. 620.003. FAILURE TO POST EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION. If the comptroller determines that a governmental entity has violated Section 620.002, the comptroller shall:

(1) publish the comptroller's determination in the Texas Register; and

(2) notify the governmental entity in writing that the entity is ineligible for any state grant for a period of two years from the date the determination is published under Subdivision (1).

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2024, each governmental entity shall comply with Section 620.002, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.