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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of public money to compensate a person who |
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lobbies the federal government. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 556.005(a), (b), and (d), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A state agency may not use appropriated money to employ, |
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as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person |
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who is required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist or who is a |
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lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by Section 3 of the Lobbying |
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Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). Except for an |
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institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, |
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Education Code, a state agency may not use any money under its |
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control to employ or contract with an individual who is required by |
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Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist or who is a lobbyist or |
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lobbying firm as defined by Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act |
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of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). |
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(b) A state agency may not use appropriated money to pay, on |
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behalf of the agency or an officer or employee of the agency, |
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membership dues to an organization that pays part or all of the |
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salary of a person who is required by Chapter 305 to register as a |
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lobbyist or who is a lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by Section |
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3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). |
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This subsection does not apply to the payment by a state agency of |
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membership fees under Chapter 81. |
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(d) A state agency administering a statewide retirement |
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plan may enter into a contract to receive assistance or advice |
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regarding the qualified tax status of the plan or on other federal |
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matters affecting the administration of the state agency or its |
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programs if the contractor is not: |
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(1) required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist; |
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or |
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(2) a lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by Section 3 |
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of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section 1602). |
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SECTION 2. Section 556.0055(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A political subdivision or private entity that receives |
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state funds may not use the funds to pay: |
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(1) lobbying expenses incurred by the recipient of the |
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funds; |
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(2) a person or entity that is: |
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(A) required by Chapter 305 to register as a |
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lobbyist [with the Texas Ethics Commission under Chapter 305]; or |
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(B) a lobbyist or lobbying firm as defined by |
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Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. Section |
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1602); |
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(3) any partner, employee, employer, relative, |
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contractor, consultant, or related entity of a person or entity |
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described by Subdivision (2); or |
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(4) a person or entity that has been hired to represent |
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associations or other entities for the purpose of affecting the |
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outcome of legislation, agency rules, ordinances, or other |
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government policies. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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the use of public money to compensate a person defined by federal |
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law as a lobbyist or lobbying firm on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |