Bill Text: TX HB2319 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the use of public money to compensate a person who lobbies the federal government.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 14-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-15 - Referred to State Affairs [HB2319 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2319-Introduced.html
87R8026 TJB-F | ||
By: Jetton | H.B. No. 2319 |
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relating to the use of public money to compensate a person who | ||
lobbies the federal government. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Sections 556.005(a), (b), and (d), Government | ||
Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) A state agency may not use appropriated money to employ, | ||
as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person | ||
who is required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist or who is a | ||
lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by Section 3 of the Lobbying | ||
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). Except for an | ||
institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, | ||
Education Code, a state agency may not use any money under its | ||
control to employ or contract with an individual who is required by | ||
Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist or who is a lobbyist or | ||
lobbying firm as defined by Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act | ||
of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). | ||
(b) A state agency may not use appropriated money to pay, on | ||
behalf of the agency or an officer or employee of the agency, | ||
membership dues to an organization that pays part or all of the | ||
salary of a person who is required by Chapter 305 to register as a | ||
lobbyist or who is a lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by Section | ||
3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). | ||
This subsection does not apply to the payment by a state agency of | ||
membership fees under Chapter 81. | ||
(d) A state agency administering a statewide retirement | ||
plan may enter into a contract to receive assistance or advice | ||
regarding the qualified tax status of the plan or on other federal | ||
matters affecting the administration of the state agency or its | ||
programs if the contractor is not: | ||
(1) required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist; | ||
or | ||
(2) a lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by Section 3 | ||
of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). | ||
SECTION 2. Section 556.0055(a), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) A political subdivision or private entity that receives | ||
state funds may not use the funds to pay: | ||
(1) lobbying expenses incurred by the recipient of the | ||
funds; | ||
(2) a person or entity that is: | ||
(A) required by Chapter 305 to register as a | ||
lobbyist [ |
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(B) a lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by | ||
Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section | ||
1602); | ||
(3) any partner, employee, employer, relative, | ||
contractor, consultant, or related entity of a person or entity | ||
described by Subdivision (2); or | ||
(4) a person or entity that has been hired to represent | ||
associations or other entities for the purpose of affecting the | ||
outcome of legislation, agency rules, ordinances, or other | ||
government policies. | ||
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to | ||
the use of public money to compensate a person defined by federal | ||
law as a lobbyist or lobbying firm on or after the effective date of | ||
this Act. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |