Rules
Adopted
Adopted Rules
At its December 11, 2007, meeting, the Texas Ethics Commission voted to adopt the following rules:
Newsletter of Public Officer of a Political Subdivision
(Effective January 3, 2008)
Text of Adopted Rule
Lobby Rules
(Effective January 3, 2008)
Text of Adopted Rules
Per Diem
(Effective January 1, 2008)
Text of Adopted Rule
Newsletter of Public Officer of a Political Subdivision
Text of Adopted Rule
The new language is italicized.
Chapter 26. POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE ADVERTISING
§ 26.2. Newsletter of Public Officer of a Political Subdivision
For purposes of section 255.003 of the Election Code, a newsletter of a public officer of a political subdivision is not political advertising if:
(1) It includes no more than two pictures of a public officer per page and if the total amount of area covered by the pictures is no more than 20 percent of the page on which the pictures appear;
(2) It includes no more than eight personally phrased references (such as the public officer’s name, “I”, “me”, “the city council member”) on a page that is 8 ½″ x 11″ or larger, with a reasonable reduction in the number of such personally phrased references in pages smaller than 8 ½″ x 11″; and
(3) When viewed as a whole and in the proper context:
(A) is informational rather than self-promotional;
(B) does not advocate passage or defeat of a measure; and
(C) does not support or oppose a candidate for nomination or election to a public office or office of a political party, a political party, or a public officer.
Lobby Rules
Text of Adopted Rules
The new language is italicized.
Chapter 34. REGULATION OF LOBBYISTS
Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 34.19. Conflicts of Interest (Repealed)
Subchapter B. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
§ 34.43. Compensation and Reimbursement Threshold
(a) A person must register under Government Code, § 305.003(a)(2), if the person receives, or is entitled to receive under an agreement under which the person is retained or employed more than $1000 in a calendar quarter in compensation and reimbursement, not including reimbursement for the person’s own travel, food, lodging, or membership dues, from one or more other persons to communicate directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence legislation or administrative action.
(b) For purposes of Government Code, § 305.003(a)(2), and this chapter, a person is not required to register if no more than 5.0% of the person’s compensated time during a calendar quarter is time spent engaging in lobby activity.
(c) For purposes of Government Code, § 305.003(a)(2), and this chapter, a person shall make a reasonable allocation of compensation between compensation for lobby activity and compensation for other activities.
§ 34.61. Registration Fee (Repealed)
§ 34.62. Temporary Increase in Registration Fees (Repealed)
The new language is italicized.
Chapter 50. LEGISLATIVE SALARIES AND PER DIEM
§ 50.1. Legislative Per Diem
(a) The legislative per diem is $151. The per diem is intended to be paid to each member of the legislature and the lieutenant governor for each day during the regular session and for each day during any special session in 2008.
(b). This rule shall be applied retroactively to ensure payment of the $151 per diem for 2008.