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
EAO-233 (AOR-261).
Whether the revolving door provisions in sec.572.054 of the Texas Government 
Code apply to former employees of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 
Commission.
SUMMARY. Former employees of the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission 
are subject to the revolving door provisions in sec.572.054 of the Government 
Code with the following exception: A former TNRCC employee who participated in 
the handling of a permit application covered by Health and Safety Code 
sec.361.0885 and sec.382.0591 or Water Code sec.26.0283 is subject to those 
provisions, not to sec.572.054 of the Government Code, for purposes of 
determining whether he or she may represent a person in regard to a permit 
matter before the TNRCC.

EAO-234 (AOR-262).
Whether sec.253.034 of the Election Code, which places a moratorium on certain 
political contributions before and during the regular legislative session, 
applies to a member of the State Board of Education.
SUMMARY. A member of the State Board of Education is not required to comply with 
sec.253.034 of the Election Code, which places a moratorium on certain political 
contributions before and during the regular legislative session.

EAO-235 (AOR-263).
Whether a member of the legislature may accept free use of office space in a 
county-owned building offered by a county within the district the legislator 
represents.
SUMMARY. Neither Chapter 36 of the Penal Code nor Chapter 305 of the Government 
Code prohibits a member of the legislature from accepting free use of office 
space from a county.

EAO-236 (AOR-264).
Length of time a state officer must keep copies of financial disclosure 
statements and supporting documentation.
SUMMARY. There is no specific legal requirement that an officer maintain copies 
of a financial disclosure statement filed with the Ethics Commission. We 
recommend, nonetheless, that a filer keep a copy of a financial disclosure 
statement for at least two years after the deadline for filing the statement.

EAO-237 (AOR-265).
Whether a legislator may use political contributions to purchase furniture to 
use in an apartment in Austin.
SUMMARY. A member of the legislature who does not ordinarily reside in Travis 
County may use political contributions to lease or purchase furniture for a 
residence in Travis County.

EAO-238 (AOR-267).
Whether Government Code chapter 572 requires a state officer to list assets held 
for him as a beneficiary of a blind trust on a personal financial disclosure 
statement.
SUMMARY. In our opinion subsection (b)(8), which is specifically directed at 
trust income and assets, prevails over subsection (b)(6) in the case of any 
conflict in regard to a description of assets held in trust for a state officer 
as beneficiary.

EAO-239 (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 sec.253.034 of the Election 
Code.
SUMMARY. As long as a person subject to sec.253.034 of the Election Code accepts 
and receives a political contribution in the form of office space before the 
beginning of the moratorium on political contributions set out in sec.253.034, 
the person may continue to use the office space during the period covered by the 
moratorium.

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; (3) Chapter 305, Government Code; (4) 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, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 
463-5800.
Issued in Austin, Texas, on December 15, 1994.
TRD-9452478
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: December 16, 1994