| 1 | 1 | | 86R975 ATP-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 780 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to lobbying by certain former officers of state |
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| 8 | 8 | | government; creating a criminal offense. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 572.062. FORMER LEGISLATOR OR STATEWIDE OFFICEHOLDER: |
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| 13 | 13 | | LOBBYING RESTRICTED; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section, |
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| 14 | 14 | | "administrative action," "communicates directly with," |
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| 15 | 15 | | "legislation," "member of the executive branch," and "member of the |
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| 16 | 16 | | legislative branch" have the meanings assigned by Section 305.002. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a person who is a |
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| 18 | 18 | | former member of the legislature or a former holder of an office |
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| 19 | 19 | | normally filled by statewide election may not engage in activities |
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| 20 | 20 | | that require registration under Chapter 305 before the first |
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| 21 | 21 | | anniversary of the first day of the first regular legislative |
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| 22 | 22 | | session to convene after the date the person ceases to be a member |
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| 23 | 23 | | of the legislature or statewide officeholder, as applicable. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a person who: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) communicates directly with a member of the |
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| 26 | 26 | | legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or |
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| 27 | 27 | | administrative action; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | (2) does not receive compensation other than |
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| 29 | 29 | | reimbursement for actual expenses for a communication described by |
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| 30 | 30 | | Subdivision (1). |
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| 31 | 31 | | (d) A person who violates this section commits an offense. |
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| 32 | 32 | | An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 2. Section 572.062, Government Code, as added by |
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| 34 | 34 | | this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature or statewide |
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| 35 | 35 | | officeholder who ceases to hold office on or after the effective |
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| 36 | 36 | | date of this Act. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 12, 2021. |
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