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.

Ethics Advisory Opinion
EAO-368. Whether a judge may accept an offer from the sponsor of a legal seminar 
to allow the judge to attend the seminar at no cost. (AOR-405) 
SUMMARY A waiver of a seminar fee is not an officeholder contribution for 
purposes of title 15 of the Election Code nor is it a benefit for purposes of 
section 36.08 of the Penal Code if the fee would otherwise be reimbursable from 
county funds.
EAO-369. Whether a member of the Agriculture Resources Protection Authority is 
required to file a personal financial statement. (AOR-406)
SUMMARY A member of the Agriculture Resources Protection Authority (ARPA) is 
not, by virtue of his or her ARPA membership, required to file a personal 
financial disclosure statement under chapter 572 of the Government Code.
EAO-370. Whether Government Code section 572.023(11) requires that certain meals 
be reported on Part XI of the personal financial disclosure statement form. (SP-
7)
SUMMARY A person who is required to file a personal financial disclosure 
statement under chapter 572 of the Government Code and who speaks at an event 
that includes a meal for the speaker and the audience is not required to report 
the meal on Part XI of the financial disclosure statement form.
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 May 22, 1997.
TRD-9706766
Karen Lundquist
General Counsel
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: May 22, 1997