2021S0342-1 04/27/21
By: Menéndez, et al. S.B. No. 2233
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring sexual harassment prevention training and
ethics training to register as a lobbyist.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 305.005(f), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) The registration must be written and verified and must
contain:
(1) the registrant's full name and address;
(2) the registrant's normal business, business phone
number, and business address;
(3) the full name and address of each person:
(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the
registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative
or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative
action; and
(B) on whose behalf the registrant has
communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive
branch to influence legislation or administrative action;
(4) the subject matter of the legislation or of the
administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's
direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive
branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other
administrative designation of the administrative action;
(5) for each person employed or retained by the
registrant for the purpose of assisting in direct communication
with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence
legislation or administrative action:
(A) the full name, business address, and
occupation of the person; and
(B) the subject matter of the legislation or of
the administrative action to which the person's activities
reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the
docket number or other administrative designation of the
administrative action; [and]
(6) the amount of compensation or reimbursement paid
by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant
for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the
legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the registrant
communicates directly with a member of the legislative or executive
branch;
(7) a certificate evidencing completion of a sexual
harassment prevention training course in the previous two years, as
required by Section 305.0052; and
(8) a certificate evidencing completion of an ethics
training course in the previous two years, as required by Section
305.0053.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 305, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 305.0052 and 305.0053 to read as
follows:
Sec. 305.0052. SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING. (a)
Each person required to register under this chapter shall attend a
sexual harassment prevention training course every two years, as
approved by the commission, and shall submit to the commission a
certificate of completion of the course.
(b) The certificate of completion must be in a form approved
by the commission.
(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
Sec. 305.0053. ETHICS TRAINING. (a) Each person required
to register under this chapter shall attend an ethics training
course every two years, as approved by the commission, and shall
submit to the commission a certificate of completion of the course.
(b) The certificate of completion must be in a form approved
by the commission.
(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas Ethics
Commission shall adopt rules as required by Sections 305.0052 and
305.0053, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an initial registration or renewal registration under Chapter
305, Government Code, filed on or after January 1, 2022. An initial
registration or renewal registration under Chapter 305, Government
Code, filed before January 1, 2022, is governed by the law in effect
when that registration is filed, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5. 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, 2021.