By: Watson, Burton S.B. No. 585
(In the Senate - Filed February 16, 2015; February 23, 2015,
read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
April 29, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 0; April 29, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the content of detailed reports filed by registered
lobbyists.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 305.0061(a), (b), and (c), Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) If a registrant or a person on the registrant's behalf
and with the registrant's consent or ratification makes
expenditures that exceed $50 [60 percent of the amount of the
legislative per diem in] a day for transportation or lodging for a
member of the legislative or executive branch or for the immediate
family of a member of the legislative or executive branch, the
registrant shall also state the following on the report filed under
Section 305.006:
(1) the name of the member of the legislative or
executive branch in whose behalf the expenditure is made;
(2) the place and date of the transportation or
lodging; and
(3) the purpose of the transportation or lodging.
(b) If a registrant or a person on the registrant's behalf
and with the registrant's consent or ratification makes
expenditures that exceed $50 [60 percent of the amount of the
legislative per diem in] a day for food and beverages for a member
of the legislative or executive branch or for the immediate family
of a member of the legislative or executive branch or makes
expenditures that exceed $50 [60 percent of the amount of the
legislative per diem in] a day for entertainment for a member of the
legislative or executive branch or for the immediate family of a
member of the legislative or executive branch, the registrant shall
also state the following on the report filed under Section 305.006:
(1) the name of the member of the legislative or
executive branch in whose behalf the expenditure is made;
(2) the place and date of the expenditure; and
(3) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate
category of the amount, as determined by the commission.
(c) If a registrant or a person on the registrant's behalf
and with the registrant's consent or ratification gives to a member
of the legislative or executive branch, or to the immediate family
of a member of the legislative or executive branch, a gift or an
award or memento, the value of which exceeds $50 per gift, award, or
memento, the registrant shall also state the following on the
report filed under Section 305.006:
(1) the name of the member of the legislative or
executive branch in whose behalf the expenditure is made;
(2) a general description of the gift, award, or
memento; and
(3) the amount of the expenditure by the appropriate
category of the amount, as determined by the commission.
SECTION 2. Section 305.0061(g), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a gift, award, or memento given to or expenditures for
transportation, lodging, food, beverages, or entertainment made
for a member of the legislative or executive branch or the immediate
family of a member of the legislative or executive branch on or
after the effective date of this Act. A gift, award, or memento
given to or an expenditure for transportation, lodging, food,
beverages, or entertainment made for a member of the legislative or
executive branch or the immediate family of a member of the
legislative or executive branch before the effective date of this
Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the gift, award, or
memento was given, or the date the expenditure for transportation,
lodging, food, beverages, or entertainment was made, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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