TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by Government Code, sec.571.091, to issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: the Government Code, Chapter 302; the Government Code, Chapter 305; the Government Code, Chapter 572; the Election Code, Title 15; the Penal Code, Chapter 36; and the Penal Code, Chapter 39. Requests for copies of the full text of opinions or questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Office of the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800. Texas Ethics Commission Opinions AOR-245. Filed closed. No opinion issued. Withdrawn by requestor. The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by sec.1.29 of Subchapter D of Chapter 571 of the Government Code, to issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: (1) Subchapter D of Chapter 572 of the Government Code; (2) Chapter 302, Government Code; (1) Chapter 305), Government Code; (3) Title 15, Election Code; (5) Chapter 36, Penal Code; and (6) Chapter 39, Penal Code. Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800. Issued in Austin, Texas, on July 28, 1994. TRD-9445978 Sarah Woelk Director, Advisory Opinions Texas Ethics Commission Filed: August 2, 1994 AOR-247. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider the scope of Ethics Advisory Opinion Number 215, which stated that a partnership including one or more corporate partners is subject to the same restrictions on political activity that apply to corporations. The specific questions are as follows: Is a partnership, composed of two or more corporation, subject to the prohibition on political contributions and political expenditures contained in sec.253.094 of the Texas Election Code if: (a) the corporate partners play no decision making role in, or exercise any control over, such political contributions/expenditures; (b) the non-corporate agent or employee of the partnership exercising control over such political contributions/expenditures is not an officer, employee or agent of any of the corporate partners; (c) contributions/expenditures are made only from partnership profits and not from contributions from corporate partners; (d) there are valid business reasons for the use of the partnership entitity by the corporate partners and such use in not merely a subterfuge for circumvention of sec.253.094 of the Texas Election Code; and (e) the partnership is not an association described in sec.253.093 of the Texas Election Code? AOR-248. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a person may use political contributions to pay the expenses of responding to a grievance filed with the State Bar by an opposing candidate. AOR-249. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to answer several questions in regard to a general-purpose political committee established by an incorporated association with corporate members. Specifically, the questions are: 1. May the funds of the association, which are corporate funds, be used to solicit contributions to the PAC from the employees, stockholders, and families of stockholders of any corporate member of the association? 2. May corporate members of the association give corporate funds to the PAC for the purpose of soliciting the employees, stockholders, and families of stockholders of those contributing corporations? 3. May corporate members of the association give corporate funds to the PAC for the purpose of soliciting the employees, stockholders, and families of stockholders of other corporate members of the association that have not assisted the PAC? 4. May corporate members of the association give corporate funds to the PAC for the purpose of soliciting any member of the association, regardless of their legal status? AOR-250. The Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether an officeholder may invest political contributions by purchasing stock; purchasing stock through a margin account, or purchasing commodity futures, stock options, or junk bonds. The requestor also asks whether it is permissible to make loans with political contributions under various circumstances. The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by sec.1.29 of Subchapter D of Chapter 571 of the Government Code, to issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: (1) Subchapter D of Chapter 572 of the Government Code; (2) Chapter 302, Government Code; (1) Chapter 305), Government Code; (3) Title 15, Election Code; (5) Chapter 36, Penal Code; and (6) Chapter 39, Penal Code. Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800. Issued in Austin, Texas, on July 28, 1994. TRD-9445979 Sarah Woelk Director, Advisory Opinions Texas Ethics Commission Filed: August 10, 1994