By: Larson, Capriglione, King of Hemphill, H.B. No. 3305       Price     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT       relating to restrictions on certain contributions by persons   appointed to public office by the governor; creating a criminal   offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 601, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 601.012 to read as follows:          Sec. 601.012.  CERTAIN DONORS INELIGIBLE FOR GUBERNATORIAL   APPOINTMENTS; CONTRIBUTIONS BY GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES   RESTRICTED. (a) In this section:                (1)  "Communicates directly with," "matter," "member   of the executive branch," and "member of the legislative branch"   have the meanings assigned by Section 305.002.                (2)  "Political contribution" and "specific-purpose   committee" have the meanings assigned by Section 251.001, Election   Code.          (b)  An individual is ineligible to serve as an officer   appointed by the governor if during the year preceding the date of   appointment the individual made political contributions that in the   aggregate exceeded $2,500 to:                (1)  the governor; or                (2)  a specific-purpose committee supporting the   governor as a candidate or assisting the governor as an   officeholder.          (c)  An individual serving as an officer appointed by the   governor may not during any single year in which the individual   serves in that office make political contributions that in the   aggregate exceed $2,500 to the governor or a specific-purpose   committee supporting the governor as a candidate or assisting the   governor as an officeholder. An individual who violates this   section is liable in damages to this state in the amount of triple   the amount of contributions in a single year that exceed the limit   prescribed by this subsection.          (d)  For purposes of Subsection (b) or (c), a political   contribution made by the spouse or dependent child of an individual   or a political contribution from an organization made in the   individual's name and with the individual's consent is considered   to be a contribution made by the individual.          (e)  Before taking office, an individual appointed by the   governor must sign an attestation that during the year preceding   the appointment the individual, the individual's spouse or   dependent child, and an organization in the individual's name and   with the individual's consent did not make political contributions   exceeding $2,500 to the governor or a specific-purpose committee   supporting the governor as a candidate or assisting the governor as   an officeholder.          (f)  Before taking office, an individual appointed by the   governor must sign an attestation that the individual or a business   entity acting at the direction of the individual will not   compensate a person required to register as a lobbyist under   Chapter 305 for communicating directly with a member of the   legislative or executive branch on a matter affecting the officer's   state agency and will comply with any political contribution limits   under Subsection (b). An individual appointed by the governor who   or a business entity acting at the direction of the individual that   violates an attestation under this subsection, or a person required   to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 who accepts   compensation made in violation of an attestation under this   subsection, commits an offense. An offense under this subsection   is a Class A misdemeanor.          SECTION 2.  Section 601.012, Government Code, as added by   this Act, applies to an appointment made on or after the effective   date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.