Bill Text: TX HB508 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating an offense.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-17 - Referred to Elections [HB508 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB508-Introduced.html
| 82R1772 EES-D | ||
| By: Button | H.B. No. 508 | |
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| relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating | ||
| an offense. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 572.062. FORMER LEGISLATOR: LOBBYING RESTRICTED; | ||
| CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) In this section, "administrative action," | ||
| "communicates directly with," "legislation," "member of the | ||
| executive branch," and "member of the legislative branch" have the | ||
| meanings assigned by Section 305.002. | ||
| (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a former member of | ||
| the legislature may not, before the date of final adjournment of the | ||
| second regular session of the legislature to convene after the date | ||
| the person ceases to be a member, engage in activities that require | ||
| registration under Chapter 305. | ||
| (c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a former member who: | ||
| (1) communicates directly with a member of the | ||
| legislative or executive branch only to influence legislation or | ||
| administrative action on behalf of: | ||
| (A) a nonprofit organization; | ||
| (B) an individual; | ||
| (C) a group of low-income individuals; or | ||
| (D) a group of individuals with disabilities; and | ||
| (2) does not receive compensation other than | ||
| reimbursement for actual expenses for engaging in communication | ||
| described by Subdivision (1). | ||
| (d) A former member who violates this section commits an | ||
| offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 572.062, Government Code, as added by | ||
| this Act, applies only to a member of the legislature who ceases to | ||
| be a member on or after the effective date of this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. 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, 2011. | ||
