SECTION 6.1. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this part, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Act--The Government Code, Chapter 571 (concerning Texas Ethics Commission).

(2) Administrative Procedure Act--The Government Code, Chapter 2001 (concerning Administrative Procedure).

(3) Agency--The state agency governed by the commission, as it functions and operates through the administrative staff hired by the commission and its executive director.

(4) Commission--The Texas Ethics Commission, as constituted and described in the Texas Constitution, Article 3, §24a.

(5) Document--A report, complaint, response, letter, or any other written material.

(6) Executive director--The person employed by the commission to serve as the agency's chief administrative officer, or any other employee of the commission acting as the designee of the executive director.

(7) Family member or relative--An individual who is related within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity, as defined by the Government Code, Chapter 573, Subchapter B (concerning Relationships by Consanguinity or by Affinity).

(8) Filer--A person required to file a report with the commission or a local filing authority in accordance with this title.

(9) Individual--A human being who has been born and is alive.

(10) Local filing authority--A public servant other than the Texas Ethics Commission with whom a filer must file a report in accordance with this title, as identified in §20.5 of this title (relating to Reports Filed with a County Filing Authority) and §20.7 of this title (relating to Reports Filed with Other Local Filing Authority).

(11) Open Meetings Law--The Government Code, Chapter 551 (concerning Open Meetings).

(12) Open Records Law--The Government Code, Chapter 552 (concerning Open Records).

(13) Person--An individual, representative, corporation, association, or other entity, including any nonprofit corporation, or any agency or instrumentality of federal, state, or local government.

(14) Postmark--A postal cancellation by the United States Postal Service that contains the post office name, state, and zip code and the month, day, and year the canceling post office accepted custody of the material.

(15) Presiding officer--The person elected to serve as the commission's chairman or chairwoman under §6.21 of this title (relating to Officers of the Commission).

(16) Report--Any document or other information required to be filed under this title.

(17) Staff--Employees of the commission, hired by the commission or the executive director.

(18) Title 15--The Election Code, Title 15 (concerning Regulating Political Funds and Campaigns).

(19) First responder--An individual who is:

(A) a peace officer whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency;

(B) fire protection personnel, as that term is defined by Section 419.021, Government Code;

(C) a volunteer firefighter who performs firefighting duties on behalf of a political subdivision;

(D) an ambulance driver; or

(E) an individual certified as emergency medical services personnel by the Department of State Health Services.

(20) Judicial office--The office of:

(A) chief justice or justice, supreme court;

(B) presiding judge or judge, court of criminal appeals;

(C) chief justice or justice, court of appeals;

(D) district judge;

(E) judge, statutory county court; or

(F) judge, statutory probate court.

(21) Non-judicial office--An elective public office and the secretary of state, but not including an office described by paragraph (20) of this section.

Source Note: The provisions of this §6.1 adopted to be effective December 31, 1993, 18 TexReg 9707; amended to be effective September 19, 2001, 26 TexReg 7115; amended to be effective March 10, 2015, 40 TexReg 1059; amended to be effective May 3, 2018, 43 TexReg 2539