Texas Government Code 305.006 – Activities Report
(a) Each registrant shall file with the commission a written, verified report concerning the activities described by this section.
(b) The report must contain the total expenditures under a category listed in this subsection that the registrant made to communicate directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action and that are directly attributable, as that term is used in Section 305.0062(b), to a member of the legislative or executive branch or the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch. The report must also include expenditures for the direct communications under a category listed in this subsection that other people made on the registrant’s behalf if the expenditures were made with the registrant’s consent or were ratified by the registrant. The expenditures must be reported in the following categories:
(1) transportation and lodging;
(2) food and beverages;
(3) entertainment;
(4) gifts, other than awards and mementos;
(5) awards and mementos; and
(6) expenditures made for the attendance of members of the legislative or executive branch at political fund-raisers or charity events.
Terms Used In Texas Government Code 305.006
- Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) The report must also list the total expenditures made by the registrant or by others on the registrant’s behalf and with the registrant’s consent or ratification for broadcast or print advertisements, direct mailings, and other mass media communications if:
(1) the communications are made to a person other than a member, employee, or stockholder of an entity that reimburses, retains, or employs the registrant; and
(2) the communications support or oppose or encourage another to support or oppose pending legislation or administrative action.
(d) The report must also contain a list of the specific categories of subject matters about which the registrant, any person the registrant retains or employs to appear on the registrant’s behalf, or any other person appearing on the registrant’s behalf communicated directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch and that has not been reported under Section 305.005. The list must include the number or other designation assigned to the administrative action, if known.
(e) A registrant who reports an expenditure under one category provided by Subsection (b) may not report the same expenditure under another category of Subsection (b).
(f) An expenditure described by Subsection (b)(1), (2), (3), or (6) may not be made or accepted unless the registrant is present at the event. This subsection does not apply to a gift of food or beverages required to be reported under Subsection (b)(4) in accordance with Section 305.0061(e-1).
(g) For expenditures required to be reported under this section, the authorized expenditures described by Sections 305.025(3) and (4) include expenditures for an individual described by Sections 305.0062(a)(1)-(6).