Bill Text: TX HB2739 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the county ethics commission for certain counties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-16 - Referred to Border & Intergovernmental Affairs [HB2739 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2739-Introduced.html
82R2994 ATP-F | ||
By: Gonzalez | H.B. No. 2739 |
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relating to the county ethics commission for certain counties. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 161.057, Local Government Code, is | ||
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) Members of the commission serve terms of two years. | ||
Members appointed as provided by Section 161.055(a)(1) serve terms | ||
beginning on February 1 of each odd-numbered year. Members | ||
appointed as provided by Section 161.055(a)(2) serve terms | ||
beginning on February 1 of each even-numbered year. | ||
(a-1) To replace or reappoint the commission members | ||
appointed as provided by Section 161.055(a)(2) whose terms expire | ||
on January 31, 2013, the commissioners court shall appoint | ||
commission members as provided by Section 161.055(a)(2) for | ||
one-year terms to begin on February 1, 2013. Thereafter, members | ||
appointed as provided by Section 161.055(a)(2) shall serve two-year | ||
terms. To the extent of a conflict between this subsection and | ||
Subsection (a), this subsection controls. This subsection expires | ||
September 1, 2014. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 161.0591, Local Government Code, is | ||
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) The position of chair is selected from the commission | ||
members by a majority vote of the commission members. The chair | ||
serves a term of [ |
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(c) A commission member may decline to serve as chair. | ||
SECTION 3. Sections 161.104(a) and (c), Local Government | ||
Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) Not later than the 30th [ |
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person is appointed to the commission, the person must complete | ||
training on the following matters: | ||
(1) the legislation that created the commission; | ||
(2) the role and functions of the commission; and | ||
(3) the requirements of: | ||
(A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551, | ||
Government Code; | ||
(B) the public information law, Chapter 552, | ||
Government Code; and | ||
(C) other laws relating to public officials, | ||
including conflict-of-interest laws. | ||
(c) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as | ||
a member of the commission may not vote, deliberate, or be counted | ||
as a member in attendance at a meeting of the commission after the | ||
30th day after the date the person is appointed to the commission | ||
unless [ |
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program as required by Subsection (a) [ |
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SECTION 4. Section 161.105, Local Government Code, is | ||
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) The commission and commission staff shall make | ||
available [ |
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ethics code adopted by the commission [ |
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(e) A person covered by the ethics code or a lobbyist or | ||
vendor required by this section to complete training must complete | ||
the training as determined by the commission. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 161.1551(d), Local Government Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(d) A commission member serves on the standing preliminary | ||
review committee for six months. After the end of a commission | ||
member term on the standing preliminary review committee, service | ||
on the committee rotates so that each position on the commission | ||
serves on the committee, beginning [ |
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the initial members of the standing preliminary review committee | ||
chosen under Subsection (c) and succeeded by the next member on the | ||
list as described below: | ||
(1) for the rotation of members appointed under | ||
Section 161.055(a)(1), the order of service is the member appointed | ||
by the county judge, followed by the members appointed by the county | ||
commissioners in order of precinct number; and | ||
(2) for the rotation of members appointed under | ||
Section 161.055(a)(2), the order of service is the order listed by | ||
that section. | ||
SECTION 6. Sections 161.157(a) and (b), Local Government | ||
Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) A county public servant [ |
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terminate the employment of or take other adverse action against a | ||
county employee who in good faith files a complaint or otherwise | ||
reports to the commission, commission staff, or another law | ||
enforcement authority a violation of the ethics code by a person | ||
subject to the ethics code. | ||
(b) A county public servant [ |
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terminate the employment of or take other adverse action against a | ||
county employee who in good faith participates in the complaint | ||
processing, preliminary review, hearing, or any other aspect of the | ||
investigation and resolution by the commission of an alleged | ||
violation of the ethics code by a person subject to the ethics code. | ||
SECTION 7. The change in law made by this Act to Section | ||
161.057, Local Government Code, applies only to the term of a member | ||
of a county ethics commission appointed on or after the effective | ||
date of this Act. The term of a member appointed before the | ||
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the | ||
member was appointed, and the former law is continued in effect for | ||
that purpose. | ||
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |