85R5429 MK-D     By: Burton S.B. No. 445       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for   lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other   public entities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended   by adding Section 140.012 to read as follows:          Sec. 140.012.  EXPENDITURES FOR LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. (a)   This section applies only to:                (1)  a political subdivision that imposes a tax;                (2)  a political subdivision or special district that   has the authority to issue bonds, including revenue bonds;                (3)  a regional mobility authority;                (4)  a transit authority;                (5)  a regional tollway authority;                (6)  a special purpose district;                (7)  a public institution of higher education;                (8)  a community college district;                (9)  a publicly owned utility; or                (10)  a river authority.          (b)  A political subdivision or entity described by   Subsection (a) may spend money to directly or indirectly influence   or attempt to influence the outcome of any legislation pending   before the legislature only if the expenditure is authorized by a   majority vote of the governing body of the political subdivision or   entity in an open meeting of the governing body.  The expenditure   must be voted on by the governing body as a stand-alone item on the   agenda at the meeting.          (c)  A political subdivision or entity described by   Subsection (a) shall report to the Texas Ethics Commission and   publish on the political subdivision's or entity's Internet   website:                (1)  the amount of money authorized under Subsection   (b) for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing or   attempting to influence the outcome of any legislation pending   before the legislature;                (2)  the name of any person required to register under   Chapter 305, Government Code, retained or employed by the political   subdivision or entity for the purpose described by Subdivision (1);   and                (3)  an electronic copy of any contract for services   described by Subdivision (1) entered into by the political   subdivision or entity with each person listed under Subdivision   (2).          (d)  In addition to the requirements of Subsection (c), the   political subdivision or entity described by Subsection (a) shall   report to the Texas Ethics Commission and publish on the political   subdivision's or entity's Internet website the amount of public   money spent for membership fees and dues of any nonprofit state   association or organization of similarly situated political   subdivisions or entities that directly or indirectly influences or   attempts to influence the outcome of any legislation pending before   the legislature.          (e)  The Texas Ethics Commission shall make available to the   public an online searchable database on the commission's Internet   website containing the reports submitted to the commission under   Subsection (c).          (f)  If any political subdivision or entity described by   Subsection (a) does not comply with the requirements of this   section, an interested party is entitled to appropriate injunctive   relief to prevent any further activity in violation of this   section. For purposes of this subsection, "interested party" means   a person who:                (1)  is a taxpayer of a political subdivision or entity   described by Subsection (a); or                (2)  is served by or receives services from a political   subdivision or entity described by Subsection (a).          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.