85R11602 ATP-D
By: Shaheen H.B. No. 2553
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the disclosure of public money spent by certain
political subdivisions for lobbying activities in a comprehensive
annual financial report.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 140.012 to read as follows:
Sec. 140.012. DISCLOSURE IN FINANCIAL REPORT OF AMOUNTS
SPENT ON LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. (a) This section applies only to:
(1) a political subdivision that imposes a tax; or
(2) a regional mobility authority, toll road
authority, or transit authority.
(b) A political subdivision or authority that uses any
public money to directly or indirectly influence or attempt to
influence the outcome of any legislation pending before the
legislature must disclose on any comprehensive annual financial
report required to be prepared by the political subdivision or
authority:
(1) the total amount spent during the fiscal year to
directly or indirectly influence or attempt to influence the
outcome of legislation; and
(2) each person required to register as a lobbyist
under Chapter 305, Government Code, who was compensated by the
political subdivision or authority during the fiscal year to
directly or indirectly influence or attempt to influence the
outcome of legislation.
(c) Subsection (b) does not require a political subdivision
or authority to prepare a separate comprehensive annual financial
report for the disclosures under that subsection.
SECTION 2. Section 140.012, Local Government Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to a fiscal year of an entity required to
file a report that begins on or after the effective date of this
Act. Section 140.012, Local Government Code, as added by this Act,
does not apply to a fiscal year of an entity that begins before the
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. 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, 2017.