81R2076 ESH-D
By: Howard of Travis H.B. No. 723
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain activities by, employment of, and contracts of
former members of the legislature; creating offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 572.002, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (5-a) to read as follows:
(5-a) "Legislative committee" means:
(A) a standing or select committee of either
house of the legislature; or
(B) a committee that includes members of both
houses of the legislature, including a joint committee, conference
committee, or select committee, regardless of whether the committee
includes persons who are not members of the legislature.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 572.062 through 572.066 to read as
follows:
Sec. 572.062. FORMER LEGISLATOR: LOBBYING RESTRICTED;
CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section, "administrative action,"
"communicates directly with," "legislation," "member of the
executive branch," and "member of the legislative branch" have the
meanings assigned by Section 305.002.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of
the legislature may not, before the second anniversary of the date
the last term for which the former member was elected ends, engage
in activities that require registration under Chapter 305.
(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member who:
(1) communicates directly with a member of the
legislative or executive branch only to influence legislation or
administrative action on behalf of:
(A) a nonprofit organization;
(B) an individual;
(C) a group of low-income individuals; or
(D) a group of individuals with disabilities; and
(2) does not receive compensation other than
reimbursement for actual expenses for engaging in communication
described by Subdivision (1).
(d) To the extent of a conflict between this section and
Section 572.063, this section controls.
(e) A former member who violates this section commits an
offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 572.063. FORMER LEGISLATOR: REPRESENTATION OF CLIENTS
RESTRICTED; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a former member of the legislature may not, before
the first anniversary of the date the last term for which the former
member was elected ends, represent a client before a governmental
entity with regard to a matter that was within the jurisdiction of a
legislative committee on which the former member served during any
part of the two years preceding the date the former member left
office.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a former member's
representation of a client that:
(1) began before the former member was first elected
to the legislature; and
(2) continued throughout the former member's service
in the legislature.
(c) A former member of the legislature who violates this
section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class
A misdemeanor.
Sec. 572.064. FORMER LEGISLATOR: ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO
OR EMPLOYMENT BY STATE DEPARTMENT, COMMISSION, BOARD, OR AGENCY;
CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a
former member of the legislature may not, before the second
anniversary of the date the last term for which the member was
elected ends, be:
(1) appointed to or employed by a department,
commission, board, or other agency in the legislative, executive,
or judicial branch of state government; or
(2) nominated, elected, or appointed to a public
office that was created or for which the salary was increased during
the former member's last term.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to an office for which the
constitution prescribes the qualifications for holding office.
(c) A former member who violates this section commits an
offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 572.065. FORMER LEGISLATOR: EMPLOYMENT BY REGULATED
ENTITY RESTRICTED; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) A former member of the
legislature may not, before the second anniversary of the date the
last term for which the former member was elected ends, be employed
by an entity that is regulated by a department, commission, board,
or other agency in the legislative, executive, or judicial branch
of state government regarding a matter that was within the
jurisdiction of a legislative committee on which the former member
served during any part of the two years preceding the date the
former member left office.
(b) A former member who violates this section commits an
offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 572.066. FORMER LEGISLATOR: CONTRACTS WITH STATE
RESTRICTED; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) A former member of the
legislature may not, before the second anniversary of the date the
last term for which the member was elected ends, have an interest in
a contract with a department, commission, board, or other agency in
the legislative, executive, or judicial branch of state government
if, during the last term for which the former member was elected,
the legislature enacted a statute that:
(1) authorizes the contract; or
(2) appropriates money to pay the contract.
(b) A former member who violates this section commits an
offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 3. Sections 572.062 through 572.066, Government
Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a member of the
legislature who ceases to be a member on or after the effective date
of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.