Former public counsels and certain former office employees are barred from specific representations and employment for a limited period, and violations are offenses.
Sec. 404.056. PROHIBITED REPRESENTATION OR EMPLOYMENT. (a) A former public counsel may not make any communication to or appearance before the division, the department, the commissioner, the commissioner of insurance, or an employee of the division or the department before the second anniversary of the date the person ceases to serve as public counsel if the communication or appearance is made: (1) on behalf of another person in connection with any matter on which the person seeks official action; or (2) with the intent to influence a commissioner or commissioner of insurance decision or action, unless the person is acting on the person's own behalf and without remuneration. (b) A former public counsel may not represent any person or receive compensation for services rendered on behalf of any person regarding a matter before the division or the department before the second anniversary of the date the person ceases to serve as public counsel. (c) A person commits an offense if the person violates this section. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. (d) A former employee of the office may not: (1) be employed by an insurance carrier regarding a matter that was in the scope of the employee's official responsibility while the employee was associated with the office; or (2) represent a person before the division or the department or a court in a matter: (A) in which the employee was personally involved while associated with the office; or (B) that was within the employee's official responsibility while the employee was associated with the office. (e) The prohibition of Subsection (d)(1) applies until the first anniversary of the date the employee's employment with the office ceases. (f) The prohibition of Subsection (d)(2) applies to a current employee of the office while the employee is associated with the office and at any time after. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 3.016, eff. September 1, 2005.