Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 556.0055. RESTRICTIONS ON LOBBYING EXPENDITURES. (a) A political subdivision or private entity that receives state funds may not use the funds to pay: (1) lobbying expenses incurred by the recipient of the funds; (2) a person or entity that is required to register with the T…

Sec. 556.006. LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING. (a) A state agency may not use appropriated money to attempt to influence the passage or defeat of a legislative measure. (b) This section does not prohibit a state officer or employee from using state resources to provide public information or…

Sec. 556.007. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. A state employee who causes an employee to be discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against for providing information under Section 556.006(b) or who violates Section 556.004(c) or (d) is subject to immediate termination of emplo…

Sec. 556.008. COMPENSATION PROHIBITION. A state agency may not use appropriated money to compensate a state officer or employee who violates Section 556.004(a), (b), or (c) or Section 556.005 or 556.006(a), or who is subject to termination under Section 556.007. Added by Acts 199…

Sec. 556.009. NOTICE OF PROHIBITIONS. (a) A state agency shall provide each officer and employee of the agency a copy of Sections 556.004, 556.005, 556.006, 556.007, and 556.008 and require a signed receipt on delivery. A new copy and receipt are required if one of those provisio…

Sec. 557.001. SEDITION. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: (1) commits, attempts to commit, or conspires with one or more persons to commit an act intended to overthrow, destabilize, destroy, or alter the constitutional form of government of this state or of…

Sec. 557.002. DISQUALIFICATION. A person who is finally convicted of an offense under Section 557.001 may not hold office or a position of profit, trust, or employment with the state or any political subdivision of the state. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. S…

Sec. 557.003. SEDITIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. (a) An organization, either incorporated or unincorporated, may not engage in or have as a purpose activities intended to overthrow, destroy, or alter the constitutional form of government of this state or a political subdivision of this sta…

Sec. 557.004. ENFORCEMENT. (a) A district court may, on application by a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney, order injunctive or other equitable relief appropriate to enforce this subchapter. (b) The procedure for relief sought under Subsection (a) …

Sec. 557.005. JUDICIAL POWERS IN LABOR DISPUTES. This subchapter does not affect the powers of the courts of this state or of the United States under the law of this state in a labor dispute. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. SUBCHAPTER B. SABOTA…

Sec. 557.011. SABOTAGE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person, with the intent to injure the United States, this state, or any facility or property used for national defense sabotages or attempts to sabotage any property or facility used or to be used for national defense…

Sec. 557.012. CAPITAL SABOTAGE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person commits an offense under Section 557.011(a) and the sabotage or attempted sabotage causes the death of an individual. (b) An offense under this section is punishable by: (1) death; or (2) confinement in…

Sec. 557.013. ENFORCEMENT. The attorney general, a district or county attorney, the department, and any law enforcement officer of this state shall enforce this subchapter. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. SUBCHAPTER C. COMMUNISM

Sec. 557.021. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Communist" means a person who commits an act reasonably calculated to further the overthrow of the government: (A) by force or violence; or (B) by unlawful or unconstitutional means and replace it with a communist government. (2…

Sec. 557.022. RESTRICTIONS. (a) The name of a communist may not be printed on the ballot for any primary or general election in this state or a political subdivision of this state. (b) A person may not hold a nonelected office or position with the state or any political subdivisi…

Sec. 557.023. ENFORCEMENT. The attorney general, a district or county attorney, the department, and any law enforcement officer of this state shall enforce this subchapter. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 558.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "deaf or hearing impaired" means having a hearing impairment, regardless of the existence of a speech impairment, that inhibits: (1) comprehension of an examination or proceeding; or (2) communication with others. Added by Acts 1993, 73r…

Sec. 558.002. STATE EXAMINATIONS. (a) A deaf or hearing impaired person taking a state examination required for state employment or issuance of a state license is entitled, on request, to an interpreter. (b) The interpreter may be paid for not more than eight hours for interpreti…

Sec. 558.003. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In a proceeding before the governing body of a political subdivision in which the legal rights, duties, or privileges of a party are to be determined by the governing body after an adjudicative hearing, the governing bo…

Sec. 559.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state governmental body" means a governmental body as defined by Section 552.003 that is part of state government. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1059, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 559.002. RIGHT TO BE INFORMED ABOUT INFORMATION COLLECTED. It is the policy of this state that an individual is entitled to be informed about information that a state governmental body collects about the individual unless the state governmental body is allowed to withhold th…

Sec. 559.003. RIGHT TO NOTICE ABOUT CERTAIN INFORMATION LAWS AND PRACTICES. (a) Each state governmental body that collects information about an individual by means of a form that the individual completes and files with the governmental body in a paper format or in an electronic f…

Sec. 559.004. RIGHT TO CORRECTION OF INCORRECT INFORMATION. Each state governmental body shall establish a reasonable procedure under which an individual is entitled to have the state governmental body correct information about the individual that is possessed by the state govern…

Sec. 559.005. APPLICABILITY OF AND CONSTRUCTION WITH PUBLIC INFORMATION LAW. (a) Chapter 552 governs the charges that a state governmental body may impose on an individual who requests information the governmental body collects about the individual. The governmental body may not …

Sec. 560.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Biometric identifier" means a retina or iris scan, fingerprint, voiceprint, or record of hand or face geometry. (2) "Governmental body" has the meaning assigned by Section 552.003, except that the term includes each entity within o…

Sec. 560.002. DISCLOSURE OF BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER. A governmental body that possesses a biometric identifier of an individual: (1) may not sell, lease, or otherwise disclose the biometric identifier to another person unless: (A) the individual consents to the disclosure; (B) the d…

Sec. 560.003. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 552. A biometric identifier in the possession of a governmental body is exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Renumbered from Government Code Sec. 559.003 by Acts 2003, 78…

Sec. 571.001. PURPOSE. It is the policy of the legislature to protect the constitutional privilege of free suffrage by regulating elections and prohibiting undue influence while also protecting the constitutional right of the governed to apply to their government for the redress …

Sec. 571.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Ethics Commission. (2) "Complainant" means an individual who files a sworn complaint with the commission. (2-a) "Executive director" means the executive director of the commission. (3) "Political party" …

Sec. 571.021. TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION. This chapter applies to the Texas Ethics Commission created under Article III, Section 24a, of the Texas Constitution. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 571.022. SUNSET PROVISION. The commission is subject to review under Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act), but is not abolished under that chapter. The commission shall be reviewed during the periods in which state agencies abolished in 2013 and every 12th year after that year are…

Sec. 571.0221. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. Appointments to the commission shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, age, national origin, or religion of the appointees. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Renumbered from Gove…

Sec. 571.023. PRESIDING OFFICER. The members of the commission shall elect annually the presiding officer of the commission. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 571.0231. RESTRICTION ON COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP. A person may not be a member of the commission if the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 249, Sec. 1.03, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 571.0232. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL. (a) It is a ground for removal from the commission that a member: (1) does not have at the time of taking office the qualifications required by Section 24a, Article III, Texas Constitution; (2) does not maintain during service on the commission…

Sec. 571.024. EXPENSES. A member of the commission is entitled to travel expenses incurred in performing official duties and to a per diem equal to the maximum amount allowed on January 1 of that year for federal employees per diem for federal income tax purposes, subject to the …

Sec. 571.025. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet at least once each calendar quarter and at other times at the call of the presiding officer. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 571.026. QUORUM; VOTE REQUIRED. (a) A majority of the membership of the commission constitutes a quorum. (b) A vacancy on the commission may not be considered in determining the membership of the commission for the purpose of a quorum. (c) An action or recommendation of the …

Sec. 571.027. PROHIBITED PARTICIPATION. (a) A member of the commission may not participate in a commission proceeding relating to any of the following actions if the member is the subject of the action: (1) a formal investigation by the commission; (2) a sworn complaint filed wit…

Sec. 571.0271. COMMISSION MEMBER TRAINING. (a) 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 until the person completes a training program that c…

Sec. 571.028. PROHIBITED CANDIDACY. A member of the commission may not be a candidate for an elective public office for 12 months after the date on which the member ends service on the commission. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 571.029. STAFF. (a) The commission may employ staff, including an executive director and a general counsel, necessary to administer the commission's functions. (b) The commission may not employ a person and an employee of the commission may not continue in employment with th…

Sec. 571.030. SEPARATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. The commission shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the commission and the management responsibilities of the executive director and the staff of the commission. Added by Act…

Sec. 571.0301. INFORMATION TO MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES. The executive director or the executive director's designee shall provide to members and employees of the commission, as often as necessary, information regarding the requirements for office or employment under this chapter, in…

Sec. 571.0302. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT POLICY. (a) The executive director or the executive director's designee shall prepare and maintain a written policy statement that implements a program of equal employment opportunity to ensure that all personnel decisions are made without regard t…

Sec. 571.031. RECORDS. Except as provided by Sections 571.139(a) and 571.140, Chapter 552 applies to all records of the commission. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.