By: King of Taylor H.B. No. 3715
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain individuals employed to assist a registered
lobbyist.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 305.005, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (f) and (j) and adding Subsection (l) 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 or by the person described by Subdivision (3) for the
purpose of assisting the registrant 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.
(j) If the person described by Subsection (f)(3) is a
business entity engaged in the representation of clients for the
purpose of influencing legislation or administrative action, the
registrant shall give the information required by that subdivision
for each client on whose behalf the registrant, or a person employed
or retained to assist the registrant as described by Subsection
(f)(5), communicated directly with a member of the legislative or
executive branch.
(l) A registrant is not required, under Subsection (f)(5) or
(j), to include information concerning another person in a
registration if:
(1) the other person is also a registrant; and
(2) any client required to be included for the other
person in the registrant's registration under Subsection (f)(3) or
(j) is included in the other person's registration.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 305, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 305.012 to read as follows:
Sec. 305.012. SEARCHABLE DATABASE. The commission shall
maintain and make available through the Internet a searchable
database that includes, for each registrant:
(1) the name of each person employed or retained to
assist the registrant as described by Section 305.005(f)(5); and
(2) each client on behalf of whom the person described
by Subdivision (1) communicated directly with a member of the
legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or
administrative action.
SECTION 3. Section 305.005, Government Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to a registration or registration renewal
required to be filed under Chapter 305, Government Code, on or after
September 1, 2009. A registration or registration renewal required
to be filed under Chapter 305, Government Code, before September 1,
2009, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before
September 1, 2009, and that law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 4. The Texas Ethics Commission shall establish the
searchable database required by Section 305.012, Government Code,
as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2010.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.