Bill Text: TX HB3945 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to restrictions on introducing, sponsoring, or voting on measures or bills in which a member of the legislature has certain interests; creating a criminal offense.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-09 - No action taken in committee [HB3945 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB3945-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Geren H.B. No. 3945
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to restrictions on introducing, sponsoring, or voting on
  measures or bills in which a member of the legislature has certain
  interests; creating a criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 572.053, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 572.053.  VOTING BY LEGISLATORS ON CERTAIN MEASURES OR
  BILLS; CRIMINAL OFFENSE.  (a)  A member of the legislature may not
  vote on a measure or a bill, other than a measure or a bill that will
  affect an entire class of business entities, if a reasonable person
  would conclude that the measure or bill will [that will directly]
  benefit [a specific business transaction of] a business entity in
  which the member or the member's spouse has a controlling interest.
         (a-1)  A member of the legislature may not vote on a measure
  or a bill, other than a measure or a bill that will affect an entire
  class of business entities, if a reasonable person would conclude
  that the measure or bill will benefit a specific business
  transaction of a business entity that will result in the payment of
  consideration to the member or the member's spouse.
         (b)  For purposes of [In] this section, a member of the
  legislature or the member's spouse has a ["]controlling interest in
  a business entity if [" includes]:
               (1)  the member or the member's spouse has an ownership
  interest or participating interest by virtue of shares, stock, or
  otherwise that exceeds 10 percent;
               (2)  the member or the member's spouse serves
  [membership] on the board of directors or other governing body of
  the business entity; [or]
               (3)  the member or the member's spouse serves [service]
  as an officer of the business entity; or
               (4)  the affiliation of the member or the member's
  spouse with the business entity resulted in the member or the
  member's spouse receiving a pecuniary gain in an amount equal to or
  greater than $1,000 over a period of one year.
         (c)  A member of the legislature commits an offense if the
  member violates this section. An offense under this subsection is a
  Class A misdemeanor and may be prosecuted in Travis County.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 572.0531, Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 572.0531.  NOTICE REQUIRED FOR INTRODUCTION OR
  SPONSORSHIP OF OR VOTING ON CERTAIN MEASURES OR BILLS BY
  LEGISLATORS; CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
         SECTION 3.  Section 572.0531, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (a-1) and (e-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A member of the legislature shall file a notice as
  required by Subsection (b) before introducing, sponsoring, or
  voting on a measure or bill if the member has a controlling interest
  in an entity that will be affected by the measure or bill, or if the
  member receives a pecuniary benefit from the entity through
  employment, a contract or subcontract, a contingency fee
  arrangement, a referral fee, or any other type of agreement with the
  entity. For purposes of this subsection, a member has a controlling
  interest in a business entity if the member would have a controlling
  interest in the business entity for purposes of Section 572.053.
         (e-1)  A member of the legislature commits an offense if the
  member violates Subsection (a-1). An offense under this subsection
  is a Class A misdemeanor and may be prosecuted in Travis County.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a vote on a measure or a bill by a member of the legislature or the
  filing of a notice by a member of the legislature made on or after
  the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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