By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 702
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for
lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other
public entities.
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. EXPENDITURES FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.
(a) This section applies only to a:
(1) political subdivision that imposes a tax;
(2) political subdivision or special district that has
the authority to issue bonds, including revenue bonds;
(3) regional mobility authority;
(4) transit authority;
(5) regional tollway authority;
(6) special purpose district;
(7) public institution of higher education;
(8) community college district;
(9) publicly owned utility; and
(10) river authority.
(b) A political subdivision or entity described by
Subsection (a) may spend money to directly or indirectly influence
or attempt to influence the outcome of any legislation pending
before the legislature only if the expenditure is authorized by a
majority vote of the governing body of the political subdivision or
entity in an open meeting of the governing body. The expenditure
must be voted on by the governing body as a stand-alone item on the
agenda at the meeting.
(c) A political subdivision or entity described by
Subsection (a) shall report to the Texas Ethics Commission and
publish on the political subdivision's or entity's Internet
website:
(1) the amount of money authorized under Subsection
(b) for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing or
attempting to influence the outcome of any legislation pending
before the legislature;
(2) the name of any person required to register under
Chapter 305, Government Code, retained or employed by the political
subdivision or entity for the purpose described by Subdivision (1);
and
(3) an electronic copy of any contract for services
for the purpose described by Subdivision (1) that is entered into by
the political subdivision or entity with each person listed under
Subdivision (2).
(d) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (c), a
political subdivision or entity described by Subsection (a) shall
report to the Texas Ethics Commission and publish on the political
subdivision's or entity's Internet website the amount of public
money spent for membership fees and dues of any nonprofit state
association or organization of similarly situated political
subdivisions or entities that directly or indirectly influences or
attempts to influence the outcome of any legislation pending before
the legislature.
(e) The Texas Ethics Commission shall make available to the
public an easily searchable database on the commission's Internet
website containing the reports submitted to the commission under
Subsection (c).
(f) If a political subdivision or entity described by
Subsection (a) does not comply with the requirements of this
section, an interested party is entitled to appropriate injunctive
relief to prevent further activity in violation of this section.
For purposes of this subsection, "interested party" means a person
who:
(1) is a taxpayer of the political subdivision or
entity described by Subsection (a); or
(2) is served by or receives services from the
political subdivision or entity described by Subsection (a).
(g) This section does not apply to an officer or employee of
a political subdivision or entity described by Subsection (a) who
appears before a legislative committee at the written request of
the committee or a member of the legislature and does not take a
position on any legislation.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.