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 Requests
AOR-265. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a member 
of the legislature may use political contributions to purchase furniture for a 
residence in Austin.
AOR-266. The Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether an elected 
state officer may donate political contributions to the state for use in 
offsetting state employees' salaries or whether an elected state officer may use 
political contributions to pay salary supplements directly to state employees. 
The employees in question are subject to the "benefits" provision in the Penal 
Code, sec.36.08(f).
AOR-267. The Ethics Commission has been asked to consider a possible conflict 
between the Government Code, sec.572.023(6) and (8). Specifically, the question 
is whether a person required to file a financial disclosure statement under the 
Government Code, sec.572.023 must disclose the assets of a blind trust under 
sec.572.023(6) even though subsection (8) appears to contemplate that assets of 
blind trust need not be disclosed.
AOR-268. Whether a legislator-elect may accept a donation of office space for 
use as a district office if the use will continue during the period covered by 
the moratorium on political contributions set out in the Election Code, 
sec.253.034.
AOR-269. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether an 
employee of a court of appeals is required to file a financial disclosure 
statement under the Government Code, Chapter 572.
Issued in Austin, Texas, on December 2, 1994.
TRD-9451866
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: December 5, 1994