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
AOR-202. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether a 
lobbyist may offer and whether a hearings examiner from a state agency may 
accept an invitation to attend a potluck party at the lobbyist's home. The 
request letter states that the total cost of the food and beverages provided by 
the lobbyist would be $5 and that each guest would bring a food or beverage item 
worth $5.
AOR-203. The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider the following 
questions: 1) Given the clear public purpose being furthered, can an employee 
use limited amounts of state time in creating, coordinating and distributing 
charitable materials to all employees? If not, can an employee use compensatory 
time or leave time to coordinate and distribute the materials to other employees 
here at our office, during normal business hours?
2) Can an employee use limited amounts of state materials (i.e., paper) and 
equipment in creating, coordinating, and distributing charitable materials to 
all employees? If state materials such as paper cannot be used, can state 
equipment be used as long as there is no cost to the state (e.g., a state copier 
is used but paper is supplied by a private source)?
3) Can the agency head use his or her own personal resources to create or 
distribute fundraising materials or materials to agency employees during normal 
business hours which encourage employees to volunteer their time for charitable 
purposes?
4) Can an elected agency head use his or her officeholder account to fund the 
creation or distribution of fundraising materials or materials which encourage 
employees to volunteer their time for charitable purposes, with such materials 
being distributed to agency employees during normal business hours?
The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by the Government Code, Chapter 571, 
Subchapter D, sec.1.29, to issue advisory opinions in regard to the following 
statutes: the Government Code, Chapter 572, Subchapter D; 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.
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 November 9, 1993.
TRD-9331789
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: November 9, 1993