TITLE texas-ethics-commision

Advisory Opinions

EAO-468 The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether corporate expenditures "for minimal time spent by a corporate employee to deliver a committee check in person at a local campaign event held in the same locale as the employee lives and during normal working hours" are permissible. (AOR - 531).

An expenditure made by a corporation to deliver a political contribution in the form of a check from a general-purpose political committee to a candidate would constitute an administrative expenditure if the delivery originates and is completed in the state of Texas.

EAO-469 The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a former state employee who, while an employee of a state agency testified as an expert on the agency's rules in a lawsuit to which the state was not a party, may represent a litigant in that lawsuit. (AOR - 532).

An individual formerly employed by a state regulatory agency who, while an employee for the state agency testified as an expert on the state agency's rules in a lawsuit to which the state of Texas was not a party, may represent a litigant in that lawsuit.

The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by §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 36, Penal Code; and (8) Chapter 39, Penal 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.

Natalia Luna Ashley

General Counsel

Texas Ethics Commission

Filed: March 29, 2006