Certain former department officials and employees may not accept gifts or political contributions for two years after leaving office or employment, and others may not make such gifts or contributions to them when the listed conflict conditions apply.
Sec. 51.215. GIFT OR POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION TO FORMER OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE. (a) A former commission member, former executive director, or former employee of the department may not, before the second anniversary of the date that the person's service in office or employment with the department ceases, intentionally or knowingly accept a gift or political contribution from: (1) a person that has a significant financial interest in the lottery; (2) a person related in the first degree of consanguinity or affinity to a person that has a significant financial interest in the lottery; (3) a person that owns more than a 10 percent interest in an entity that has a significant financial interest in the lottery; (4) a political committee that is directly established, administered, or controlled, in whole or in part, by a person that has a significant financial interest in the lottery; or (5) a person who, within the two years preceding the date of the gift or contribution, won a lottery prize exceeding $600 in amount or value. (b) A person may not make a gift or political contribution to a person known by the actor to be a former commission member, former executive director, or former employee of the department, if the actor: (1) has a significant financial interest in the lottery; (2) is related in the first degree of consanguinity or affinity to a person that has a significant financial interest in the lottery; (3) owns more than a 10 percent interest in an entity that has a significant financial interest in the lottery; (4) is a political committee that is directly established, administered, or controlled, in whole or in part, by a person that has a significant financial interest in the lottery; or (5) within the two years preceding the date of the gift or contribution, won a lottery prize exceeding $600 in amount or value. (c) A person commits an offense if the person violates this section. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1441, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Section 467.107 by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1160 (S.B. 3070), Sec. 57, eff. June 20, 2025.