By: Stickland H.B. No. 137
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to grants of appropriated money to certa
in peace officer
organizations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 614, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter L to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER L. GRANTS TO PEACE OFFICER ORGANIZATIONS
Sec. 614.211. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Appropriated money" means money appropriated by
the legislature through the General Appropriations Act or other
law.
(2) "Peace officer organization" means an
association, group, union, lodge, local, or other organization,
whether incorporated or unincorporated, in which peace officers
participate and that exists wholly or partly to deal with employers
concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages and rates of pay,
hours of employment, and conditions of work.
(3) "Political committee," "political contribution,"
and "political expenditure" have the meanings assigned by Section
251.001, Election Code.
(4) "State agency" means:
(A) a department, commission, board, office, or
other entity in the executive branch of state government;
(B) the supreme court, the court of criminal
appeals, another entity in the judicial branch of state government
with statewide authority, or a court of appeals; or
(C) a university system or an institution of
higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
Sec. 614.212. RESTRICTIONS ON GRANT-MAKING. A state agency
may not use any money under the agency's control, including
appropriated money, to make a grant or other distribution to a peace
officer organization if:
(1) the organization or an employee of the
organization is required to register under Chapter 305;
(2) the organization employs a person for the purpose
of affecting the outcome of legislation, agency rules, ordinances,
or other governmental policies;
(3) the organization establishes a political
committee or assists a political committee in performing political
activities; or
(4) the organization makes a political contribution or
political expenditure.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.