TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION

TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION

EAO-609: What activities may be conducted in a "generic get-out-the-vote" campaign as authorized by Section 253.171 of the Election Code? Must all campaign material list the name and office sought or held or a photograph of each judicial candidate? (AOR-710).

SUMMARY

Permissible activities during a "generic get-out-the-vote" campaign include certain voter registering activities, providing transportation to polling locations, and providing information about candidates that the party supported, as long as the services were provided equally to people who supported and opposed the requestor's supported candidates.

The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by section 571.091 of the Government Code to issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: (1) Chapter 572, Government Code; (2) Chapter 302, Government Code; (3) Chapter 303, Government Code; (4) Chapter 305, Government Code; (5) Chapter 2004, Government Code; (6) Title 15, Election Code; (7) Chapter 159, Local Government Code; (8) Chapter 36, Penal Code; (9) Chapter 39, Penal Code; (10) Section 2152.064, Government Code; and (11) Section 2155.003, Government Code.

Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on September 24, 2024.

TRD-202404625

James Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: September 25, 2024

EAO-610: Whether a lobbyist reports a publicly traded partnership as a corporation or non-corporate entity on the lobby registration form. (AOR-711).

SUMMARY

A publicly traded partnership is a partnership, not a corporation, and is therefore reported on the lobby registration as a non-corporate entity under Section 305.005(h) of the Government Code.

Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on September 24, 2024.

TRD-202404626

James Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: September 25, 2024

EAO-611: Would a statewide political party be able to use funds from corporations or labor organizations to pay a contractor’s invoice when the contractor was hired to develop administrative tools and a hiring plan? (AOR-712).

SUMMARY

The political party may use funds from corporations or labor organizations to pay a contractor's invoice because the contractor provided normal administrative services.

Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on September 24, 2024.

TRD-202404627

James Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: September 25, 2024

EAO-612: Whether a judicial candidate needs to include on political advertising a disclosure regarding the candidate's acceptance or rejection of voluntary expenditure limits considering the voluntary expenditure limits have been repealed. (AOR-714).

SUMMARY

No. The law requiring a judicial candidate to disclose they have accepted or rejected the voluntary expenditure limits is no longer applicable because the expenditure limits have been repealed.

Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on September 24, 2024.

TRD-202404628

James Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: September 25, 2024

EAO-613: Whether Section 572.054(b) of the Government Code prohibits a former employee of a regulatory agency from receiving compensation for assisting cities and counties applying for and managing grants issued by the requestor's former state agency. (AOR-715).

SUMMARY

The Section 572.045(b) revolving door restriction does not apply to the requestor because the requestor will be providing services to only cities and counties.

Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on September 24, 2024.

TRD-202404629

James Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: September 25, 2024