TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION

TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION

Has Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 518 been superseded by the Texas Ethics Commission's argument and the subsequent court order in Lake Travis Citizens Council? Does the definition of "principal purpose" in TEC Rule §20.1(17) apply to a nonprofit corporation, which the TEC and courts have determined should be treated as singular person? (AOR-707.)

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

TRD-202404005

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

Whether a member of the legislator may accept office space contributed by a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Whether a member of the legislator may continue to use contributed office space for a district office through the moratorium on political contributions prescribed by Section 253.034 of the Election Code. (AOR-709.)

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

TRD-202404007

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

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.)

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on August 28, 2024.

TRD-202404008

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

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

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on August 28, 2024.

TRD-202404009

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

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.)

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

TRD-202404010

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

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.)

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on August 28, 2024.

TRD-202404011

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

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

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on August 28, 2024.

TRD-202404012

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

Whether the "revolving door" provision in Government Code Section 572.054(b) prohibits a former employee of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from receiving compensation from a company to provide advice and expert testimony regarding 1) the company's compliance with a TCEQ issued permit, 2) a corrective action plan applicable to the company; and 3) the appropriateness of civil monetary penalties sought from the company. (AOR-716.)

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

TRD-202404013

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024

Whether an officer of a state agency meets the definition of an "appointed officer" when the officer is not appointed to a term of service specified in statute or state constitution beyond the default maximum term specified by Article XVI, section 30(a) of the Texas Constitution. (AOR-717-CI.)

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 or opinions@ethics.state.tx.us.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on August 28, 2024.

TRD-202404014

Jim Tinley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: August 28, 2024