88R13916 CJD-D     By: Geren H.B. No. 1585       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to matters affecting the powers and duties of the Texas   Ethics Commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 251, Election Code, is   amended by adding Section 251.0017 to read as follows:          Sec. 251.0017.  POLITICAL ADVERTISING RELATED TO   LEGISLATION. For purposes of Section 251.001(16), a communication   supporting or opposing legislation filed by a member of the   legislature is considered political advertising under that   subdivision if the communication appears to express support or   opposition of:                (1)  the member; or                (2)  persons who support or oppose the legislation.          SECTION 2.  Section 257.003(b), Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The report must be filed with the commission and must   include the information required under Section 254.031, other than   Subsection (a)(1-a) of that section, as if the contributions or   expenditures were political contributions or political   expenditures.          SECTION 3.  Section 305.002, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subdivision (6) and adding Subdivisions (15) and (16) to   read as follows:                (6)  "Legislation" means:                      (A)  a bill, resolution, amendment, nomination,   or other matter pending in either house of the legislature,   including the election of the speaker of the house of   representatives;                      (B)  any matter that is or may be the subject of   action by either house or by a legislative committee, including the   introduction, consideration, passage, defeat, approval, or veto of   the matter; or                      (C)  any matter pending in a constitutional   convention or that may be the subject of action by a constitutional   convention.                (15)  "Sexual harassment" means an unwelcome sexual   advance, a request for a sexual favor, or any other verbal or   physical conduct of a sexual nature if:                      (A)  submission to or rejection of the advance,   request, or conduct by an individual is used as a basis for a   decision by the registrant in making an expenditure authorized   under this chapter or under Title 15, Election Code;                      (B)  the advance, request, or conduct has the   purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's   work performance at the legislature; or                      (C)  the advance, request, or conduct has the   purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or   offensive working environment in the legislature.                (16)  "Social media platform" has the meaning assigned   by Section 120.001, Business & Commerce Code.          SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 305, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 305.0031 to read as follows:          Sec. 305.0031.  SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING REQUIRED. (a)   Each person required to register under this chapter shall:                (1)  complete a sexual harassment training program   approved by the commission before the date the person files an   initial or renewal registration under Section 305.005; and                (2)  submit, as part of the person's registration,   documentation evidencing completion of the program.          (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the commission may   approve a sexual harassment training program that is made available   by a house of the legislature to members, officers, and employees of   that house.          (c)  The commission may adopt rules as necessary to implement   this section.          SECTION 5.  Section 305.006, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:          (c-1)  A communication published on a social media platform   is considered a mass media communication for purposes of Subsection   (c).          SECTION 6.  Section 571.064(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  If a law administered and enforced by the commission   sets dollar amounts or categories of amounts as reporting   thresholds or if the commission sets those amounts, the commission   [annually] shall decennially adjust those thresholds upward to the   nearest multiple of $100 [$10] in accordance with the percentage   increase for the preceding 10 years [previous year] in the Consumer   Price Index for Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor   Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.          SECTION 7.  Section 257.003, Election Code, as amended by   this Act, applies only to a report that is required to be filed   under that section on or after the effective date of this Act.  A   report that is required to be filed under that section before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the   date the report is required to be filed, and the former law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 8.  (a) Not later than November 1, 2023, the Texas   Ethics Commission shall approve at least one sexual harassment   training program for purposes of Section 305.0031, Government Code,   as added by this Act.          (b)  An individual who, on November 1, 2023, is registered   under Chapter 305, Government Code, shall complete the initial   training required by Section 305.0031(a)(1), Government Code, as   added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2023.          SECTION 9.  Section 305.006, Government Code, as amended by   this Act, applies only to a report required to be filed under that   section on or after January 1, 2024.          SECTION 10.  The changes in law made by this Act to Section   571.064(b), Government Code, do not affect an adjustment made by   the Texas Ethics Commission under that subsection before the   effective date of this Act. An adjustment made before the effective   date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the   adjustment was made, and the former law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.