Texas Ethics Commission
The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-
9d.1, sec.1.29, to issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: 
Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9b; the Government Code, Chapter 302; the 
Government Code, Chapter 305; 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.
Requests
AOR-144. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider questions
about a political committee that hires a lobbyist to work on legislative 
matters. The first question is whether funds given to the committee to defray 
the cost of hiring a lobbyist must be reported as political contributions under 
Title 15 of the Election Code. The second question is whether the political 
committee would be required to register as a lobbyist if it hired a lobbyist, if 
its directors incurred costs in communicating with legislators, of if the 
committee itself incurred postage expenses to communicate to its supporters 
about legislative matters.
AOR-145. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a state 
legislator may work for a city as a paid lobbyist.
AOR-146. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider the following 
questions about the application of the Election Code, sec.252. 003(d), to an 
unincorporated association that is a general-purpose political committee.
1. Is it permissible for the [association] to use corporate contributions to pay 
the expenses (i.e., meeting space and food) associated with its forum programs 
or, in the alternative, can corporations sponsor and pay the meeting facility 
directly for the expenses associated with [the associations] forum programs?
2. Does [the association] have to include in its name the name of each 
corporation that makes a contribution to the committee or sponsors and pays 
directly for a program forum for the committee's membership?
3. If the name of a corporation that contributes to a general-purpose committee 
must be included in the name of the committee, for what period of time does the 
committee's name have to include the name of the corporation? The calendar year 
in which the contribution was received? One year following the date of the 
contribution? Forever?
4. Does the [the association] have to include in its name the name of [a 
corporation if the corporation] designates individuals to serve on the Board of 
Trustees of the [association] regardless of the fact that the [association] 
designated trustees do not constitute a majority of the total Board of Trustees 
of the [association]?
5. What does "directly control' mean in the context of Title
15, Election Code, sec.252.003(d)?
AOR-147. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked whether a state 
representative may use political contributions to reimburse himself for a 
condominium purchased in Austin in 1991.
AOR-148. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a newly-
elected judge may use political contributions to cover the cost of moving from 
the his home city to the city in which the court sits. The commission has also 
been asked to consider whether the judge may use political contributions to pay 
commuting and lodging expenses during the period before the judge and his family 
move to the city in which the court sits.
AOR-149. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to clarify Ethics Advisory 
Opinion Number 95 (1992) in regard to use of credit cards by state employees. 
Specifically, the commission has been asked to consider whether it is 
permissible for a state employee to use a state-issued credit card to pay for a 
hotel bill, even if the total bill exceeds the amount reimbursable by the state.
Issued in Austin, Texas, on January 22, 1993.
TRD-9318085
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: January 22, 1993
For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800