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.
Advisory Opinion Request
Withdrawn by requestor.
Issued in Austin, Texas, on May 12, 1995 .
TRD-9505913
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission

Ethics Advisory Opinions
EAO-259 (AOR-288).
Application of the reporting requirements and restrictions in the lobby law to a 
lobbyist who makes expenditures for a spouse or friend who is a member of the 
legislative or executive branch of state government.
Summary of Opinion.
Expenditures for food and beverages are required to be reported under the 
Government Code, Chapter 305 only if the expenditures are made to communicate 
directly with a member of the legislative or executive branch to influence 
legislation or administrative action. A lobby registrant may confer a gift in 
the form of transportation or lodging to his or her spouse, even if the spouse 
is a member of the legislative or executive branch. A lobby registrant may not 
confer a gift in the form of transportation or lodging to a personal friend who 
is a member of the legislative or executive branch unless one of the exceptions 
in Government Code, sec.305.025 is applicable.
EAO-260 (AOR-290).
Whether a legislator may use for personal purposes a laptop computer owned by 
the state.
Summary of Opinion.
It is a matter for the legislature, subject to constitutional limitations, to 
determine the appropriate uses for legislative resources. It is also up to the 
legislature to determine whether there are circumstances in which a member of 
the legislature may use for personal purposes computers owned by the state and 
reimburse the state for any costs to the state.
EAO-261 (AOR-291).
Whether county officials would violate Penal Code, sec.36.08 by accepting food, 
transportation, and lodging in connection with a demonstration of computer 
equipment by a computer equipment vendor.
Summary of Opinion.
County officials may accept transportation and lodging necessary for attendance 
at a vendor's demonstration of equipment even though the vendor's 
representatives are not in the vehicles or hotels, if the vendor's 
representatives are present at the demonstration. For acceptance of meals to be 
permissible, the donor's representatives must be present at the meals.
EAO-262 (AOR-292).
Whether a corporation's extension of credit to a candidate for the purchase of 
goods and services violates the Election Code, Chapter 253.
Summary of Opinion.
A corporation that extends credit to a candidate does not make an illegal 
political contribution, provided that the extension of credit is motivated by 
normal business practice rather than an intent to aid the candidate's campaign. 
Whether a corporation extended credit to a candidate with the intent to aid the 
candidate's campaign is a fact question.
EAO-263 (AOR-294).
Whether a corporation owned by a legislator's spouse may sell a tract of land to 
a purchaser who intends to construct improvements on the tract and lease them to 
the state.
Summary of Opinion.
None of the provisions subject to interpretation by the Ethics Commission 
prohibit a corporation owned by a legislator's spouse from selling a tract of 
land that the purchaser intends to develop for lease to the state, provided that 
neither the corporation nor the legislator retains any interest in the property.
EAO-264 (AOR-296).
under the Family Code, sec.14.82 is required to file a financial disclosure 
statement under the Government Code, Chapter 572.
Summary of Opinion.
sec.14.82 of the Family Code are not required to file annual financial 
disclosure statements under chapter 572 of the Government Code.
EAO-265 (SP-4). Whether a state employee who is statutorily authorized to act in 
a state officer's absence is required to file a financial disclosure statement 
under the Government Code, Chapter 572.
Summary of Opinion.
The Government Code, Chapter 572 does not require a person who is authorized to 
act in a state officer's absence to file a personal financial statement.
Issued in Austin, Texas, on May 15, 1995.
TRD-9505912
Sarah Woelk
Director, Advisory Opinions
Texas Ethics Commission