85R1198 ATP-F
 
  By: Taylor of Collin S.B. No. 137
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to lobbying activities engaged in by state employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 556.005, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A state agency may not use appropriated money to employ,
  as a regular full-time or part-time or contract employee, a person
  who is:
               (1)  required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist;
               (2)  required by a county, municipality, or special
  district law to register as a lobbyist, as defined by the county,
  municipality, or special district law;
               (3)  compensated to communicate with one or more
  members of a local governmental entity to influence the entity's
  policy or administrative action on behalf of another person, other
  than a state agency, by whom the person is compensated or
  reimbursed; 
               (4)  required to register as a lobbyist under 2 U.S.C.
  Section 1603; or
               (5)  compensated to communicate with one or more
  members of a foreign governmental entity to influence legislative,
  executive, or administrative action on behalf of another person by
  whom the person is compensated or reimbursed.
         (a-1)  Except for an institution of higher education as
  defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, a state agency may not
  use any money under its control to employ or contract with an
  individual who is required by Chapter 305 to register as a lobbyist.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this Act.
  Conduct engaged in before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law in effect when the conduct occurred, regardless of when a
  person was compensated for the conduct, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.