85R13823 MK-D
By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2045
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the reporting by local governmental entities of
expenditures for lobbying.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 140.0051 to read as follows:
Sec. 140.0051. STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR LOBBYING
DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. (a) In
this section, "local governmental entity" means a county,
municipality, school district, or hospital district. The term does
not include a junior college district.
(b) The governing body of a local governmental entity shall
submit to the Texas Ethics Commission a statement that clearly and
concisely shows the local governmental entity's total expenditures
for lobbying activities during a regular legislative session,
including:
(1) the full name, business name, and business address
of each person required to register under Chapter 305, Government
Code, with whom the local governmental entity has contracted to
provide lobbying services; and
(2) the total contract amount paid to each person
required to register under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of
activities on behalf of the local governmental entity.
(c) A local governmental entity shall file two statements
for each regular legislative session as follows:
(1) the first statement shall be filed not later than
the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year and shall
include all amounts contracted for by the local governmental entity
for lobbying activities regarding the regular legislative session
before the date the statement is filed; and
(2) the second statement shall be filed not later than
the 21st day after the date of final adjournment of the regular
legislative session and shall include all amounts contracted for by
the local governmental entity for lobbying activities after the
filing of the first statement.
(d) A local governmental entity shall post each statement
filed under this section on an easily accessible page on the
entity's Internet website.
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, 2017.