87R11759 TJB-D
By: Rogers H.B. No. 4050
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to communications made by an officer or employee of a
county or municipality to a legislator, legislative committee, or
executive branch officer.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 180.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 180.008. QUARTERLY REPORT ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH STATE
OFFICERS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Ethics Commission.
(2) "Communicates directly with" has the meaning
assigned by Section 305.002, Government Code.
(b) Each officer or employee of a county or municipality who
communicates directly with a member of the legislature, a committee
of the legislature, or an officer of the executive branch shall file
with the commission a written, verified report concerning the
communications.
(c) The report must include a list of each:
(1) communication described by Subsection (b),
including:
(A) the name of the person or committee
communicated with;
(B) the date of the communication; and
(C) the subject matter of the communication; and
(2) expenditure made, or other direct or indirect cost
incurred, in making a communication described by Subsection (b),
including travel costs.
(d) An officer or employee required to file a report under
this section shall file the report each calendar quarter at the time
and in the manner prescribed by the commission.
(e) The commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement
this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas Ethics
Commission shall adopt rules prescribed by Section 180.008(e),
Local Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. Section 180.008, Local Government Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to conduct that occurs on or after January
1, 2022, and a person is not required to file a report under that
section before the end of the first calendar quarter beginning on or
after that date.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.