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.
Texas Ethics Commission Opinions
AOR-189. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider the following 
questions about the prohibition on honoraria set out in the Penal Code, 
sec.36.07:
1. Does the prohibition apply if an invitation "if the invitation to speak is 
not done merely because of" the speaker's official status?
2. Does the location of a speech or the nature of the audience make a difference 
in the application of the prohibition on honoraria?
3. Would the prohibition on honoraria apply if the speaker was an employee of a 
speakers' agency?
AOR-190. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether the 
widow of a legislator may donate the representative's surplus political funds to 
a candidate for the representative's old seat.
AOR-191. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a recent 
amendment to the Penal Code, sec.36.08, will permit a city to provide free 
parking to a member of the legislator and, if so, how the provision parking is 
to be reported.
AOR-192. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a 
corporation may pay the expenses of a number of different types of fundraising 
events to raise money for a political committee supported by the corporation. 
Specifically, the request letter asks about raffles, cash bars, auctions, casino 
parities, and golf tournaments.
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: 
(1) Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9b; (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 August 13, 1993.
TRD-9327404
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: August 16, 1993