Sec. 572.060.  SOLICITATION OF OR RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.  (a)  Unless otherwise prohibited by the Code of Judicial Conduct, a state officer or state employee may:
(1)  solicit from any person a contribution to:
(A)  an organization that:
(i)  is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed under Section 501(c)(3) of that code;
(ii)  does not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of the organization's activities; and
(iii)  has not elected under Section 501(h), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to have that subsection apply to the organization; or
(B)  a governmental entity; or
(2)  recommend to any person that the person make a contribution to an organization or entity described by Subdivision (1).
(b)  A monetary contribution solicited or recommended as provided by Subsection (a) must:
(1)  be paid or made directly to the charitable organization or governmental entity by the person making the contribution;
(2)  be in the form of a check, money order, or similar instrument payable to the charitable organization or governmental entity; or
(3)  be in the form of a deduction from a state employee's salary or wage payment under the state employee charitable campaign under Subchapter I, Chapter 659.
(c)  A contribution solicited or recommended as provided by Subsection (a) that is not a monetary contribution must be delivered directly to the charitable organization or governmental entity by the person making the contribution.
(d)  A contribution paid as provided by Subsection (b) or delivered as provided by Subsection (c) is not:
(1)  a political contribution to, or political expenditure on behalf of, the state officer or state employee for purposes of Title 15, Election Code;
(2)  an expenditure for purposes of Chapter 305; or
(3)  a benefit to the state officer or state employee for purposes of Sections 36.08 and 36.09, Penal Code.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 53 (H.B. 762), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.