85R1198 ATP-F
By: Leach H.B. No. 1722
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to lobbying activities engaged in by state employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 556.005, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) A state agency may not use appropriated money to employ,
as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person
who is:
(1) required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist;
(2) required by a county, municipality, or special
district law to register as a lobbyist, as defined by the county,
municipality, or special district law;
(3) compensated to communicate with one or more
members of a local governmental entity to influence the entity's
policy or administrative action on behalf of another person, other
than a state agency, by whom the person is compensated or
reimbursed;
(4) required to register as a lobbyist under 2 U.S.C.
Section 1603; or
(5) compensated to communicate with one or more
members of a foreign governmental entity to influence legislative,
executive, or administrative action on behalf of another person by
whom the person is compensated or reimbursed.
(a-1) Except for an institution of higher education as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, a state agency may not
use any money under its control to employ or contract with an
individual who is required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this Act.
Conduct engaged in before the effective date of this Act is governed
by the law in effect when the conduct occurred, regardless of when a
person was compensated for the conduct, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.