Bill Text: TX SB754 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the reporting of the hiring of lobbyists on behalf of a governmental entity.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-26 - Referred to State Affairs [SB754 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB754-Introduced.html

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83R6122 ATP-D
By: Patrick S.B. No. 754

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the reporting of the hiring of lobbyists on behalf of a
governmental entity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 305.005, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (f) and (g-1) and adding Subsection (l) to
read as follows:
(f) The registration must be written and verified and must
contain:
(1) the registrant's full name and address;
(2) the registrant's normal business, business phone
number, and business address;
(3) the full name and address of each person:
(A) who reimburses, retains, or employs the
registrant to communicate directly with a member of the legislative
or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative
action; and
(B) on whose behalf the registrant has
communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive
branch to influence legislation or administrative action;
(4) if applicable:
(A) an indication that the person identified
under Subdivision (3) is a governmental entity or an entity that
reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant on behalf of a
governmental entity; and
(B) the name of the governmental entity on whose
behalf the registrant is reimbursed, retained, or employed;
(5) the subject matter of the legislation or of the
administrative action that is the subject of the registrant's
direct communication with a member of the legislative or executive
branch and, if applicable, the docket number or other
administrative designation of the administrative action;
(6) [(5)] for each person employed or retained by the
registrant for the purpose of assisting in direct communication
with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence
legislation or administrative action:
(A) the full name, business address, and
occupation of the person; and
(B) the subject matter of the legislation or of
the administrative action to which the person's activities
reportable under this section were related and, if applicable, the
docket number or other administrative designation of the
administrative action; and
(7) [(6)] the amount of compensation or reimbursement
paid by each person who reimburses, retains, or employs the
registrant for the purpose of communicating directly with a member
of the legislative or executive branch or on whose behalf the
registrant communicates directly with a member of the legislative
or executive branch.
(g-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
compensation or reimbursement required to be reported under
Subsection (f)(7) [(f)(6)] shall be reported as an exact amount if:
(1) the compensation or reimbursement received
exceeds $500,000; or
(2) the registrant is reimbursed, retained, or
employed by a governmental entity or by another entity on behalf of
a governmental entity.
(l) The reimbursement, retention, or employment of a
registrant by an attorney to communicate directly with a member of
the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or
administrative action on behalf of a governmental entity is not the
provision of legal representation subject to attorney-client
privilege and must be disclosed as required by this section.
SECTION 2. Section 305.005, Government Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to a lobbyist registration or renewal filed
on or after December 1, 2013.
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, 2013.