85R13823 MK-D     By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2045       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the reporting by local governmental entities of   expenditures for lobbying.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended   by adding Section 140.0051 to read as follows:          Sec. 140.0051.  STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR LOBBYING   DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.  (a)  In   this section, "local governmental entity" means a county,   municipality, school district, or hospital district.  The term does   not include a junior college district.          (b)  The governing body of a local governmental entity shall   submit to the Texas Ethics Commission a statement that clearly and   concisely shows the local governmental entity's total expenditures   for lobbying activities during a regular legislative session,   including:                (1)  the full name, business name, and business address   of each person required to register under Chapter 305, Government   Code, with whom the local governmental entity has contracted to   provide lobbying services; and                (2)  the total contract amount paid to each person   required to register under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of   activities on behalf of the local governmental entity.          (c)  A local governmental entity shall file two statements   for each regular legislative session as follows:                (1)  the first statement shall be filed not later than   the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year and shall   include all amounts contracted for by the local governmental entity   for lobbying activities regarding the regular legislative session   before the date the statement is filed; and                (2)  the second statement shall be filed not later than   the 21st day after the date of final adjournment of the regular   legislative session and shall include all amounts contracted for by   the local governmental entity for lobbying activities after the   filing of the first statement.           (d)  A local governmental entity shall post each statement   filed under this section on an easily accessible page on the   entity's Internet website.           SECTION 2.  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, 2017.