This is an older version of this article.
Summary
This bill seeks to create an office inside of the office of the attorney general to prosecute state officials for offenses outlined by chapters of government code such as Chapter 305 Registration of Lobbyists, and others that are related to ethics. This bill cannot take effect without the passage of a constitutional amendment by Texas voters.
Background
Currently, the Travis County District Attorney is charged with criminal oversight of state officials. This bill would strip that power away and move it under the state attorney general.
The high-profile charges against Tom Delay and TRMPAC by Travis County DA Ronnie Earl over the last few year have drawn attention that to the fact that one of the more liberal counties in the country has oversight over one of the more conservative states.
