Bill Text: TX SB490 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating a criminal offense.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-14 - Referred to State Affairs [SB490 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB490-Introduced.html

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86R5931 JG-D
By: Fallon S.B. No. 490

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to lobbying by former members of the legislature; creating
a criminal 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 second anniversary of 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, 2019.