Sec. 305.026. PROHIBITION ON USE OF CERTAIN PUBLIC FUNDS. (a) Public funds available to a political subdivision may not be used to compensate or reimburse the expenses over $50 of any person for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the legislative branch to influence legislation, unless the person being compensated or reimbursed resides in the district of the member with whom the person communicates or files a written statement with the commission that includes the person's name, the amount of compensation or reimbursement, and the name of the affected political subdivision.

(b) In this section, "political subdivision" includes:

(1) a municipality;

(2) a county; and

(3) a special district created under the constitution or laws of this state, including:

(A) a school district;

(B) a junior college district;

(C) a water district;

(D) a hospital district;

(E) a municipal utility district;

(F) a metropolitan transit authority; and

(G) any other governmental entity that embraces a geographic area within a definite boundary and exists for the purpose of discharging functions of government and possesses authority for subordinate self-government through officers selected by it.

(c) This section does not apply to a person who is registered under this chapter, to a person who holds an elective or appointive public office, or to a full-time employee of the affected political subdivision.

(d) This section does not prohibit a political subdivision from making an expenditure of public funds to a statewide association with a minimum membership of at least 25 percent of eligible political subdivisions that contract with or employ a registrant for the purpose of communicating directly with a member of the legislative branch to influence legislation.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 2.14(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1992. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.26, eff. Aug. 30, 1993.