| 1 | 1 | | 87R3024 JG-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Middleton H.B. No. 1702 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | a criminal offense. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 572.062. FORMER LEGISLATOR: LOBBYING RESTRICTED; |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section, "administrative action," |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | "communicates directly with," "legislation," "member of the |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | executive branch," and "member of the legislative branch" have the |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | meanings assigned by Section 305.002. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | the legislature may not, before the date of final adjournment of the |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | second regular session of the legislature to convene after the date |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | the person ceases to be a member of the legislature, engage in |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | activities that require registration under Chapter 305. |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member of the |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | legislature who: |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (1) communicates directly with a member of the |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | legislative or executive branch only to influence legislation or |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | administrative action on behalf of: |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (A) a nonprofit organization that does not |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | represent a political subdivision of this state; |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (B) an individual; |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (C) a group of low-income individuals; or |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (D) a group of individuals with disabilities; and |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (2) does not receive compensation other than |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | reimbursement for actual expenses for engaging in communication |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | described by Subdivision (1). |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (d) A former member of the legislature who violates this |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | section commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | A misdemeanor. |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 2. Section 572.062, Government Code, as added by |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature who ceases to |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | be a member on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
|---|