Compact with Texans

Agency Services

The Texas Ethics Commission provides a variety of services related to the laws administered.  Currently, the Commission is charged with administering the following laws:

• Title 15 of the Texas Election Code, governing political contributions and expenditures, and political advertising;

• Chapter 305, Texas Government Code, relating to lobbyist registration and activities;

• Chapter 572, Texas Government Code, regarding personal financial disclosure and conduct of state officers and employees;

• Chapter 302, Texas Government Code, concerning the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

• Chapter 303, Texas Government Code concerning the governor for a day and speaker’s reunion day ceremonies;

• Chapter 2004, Texas Government Code, concerning representation before state agencies; and

• Chapter 159, Local Government Code, concerning judges of statutory county courts or probate courts who elect to file a financial statement with the Commission.

The commission serves as a repository for reports that are required by these laws; it serves as a resource for interpretation of these laws (by issuing advisory opinions); it has rule making authority with respect to these laws; it processes sworn complaints filed in connection with these laws; and it provides training for state employees and officeholders for compliance with these laws.

Other services include: printing and distributing forms for filing reports and agency publications, printing and distributing copies of reports filed with the Commission, and telephone assistance to customers regarding the laws administered.

All public records are available upon request at the Texas Ethics Commission within two working days of receipt.  Most information is available on the Agency web page.  Detailed information about campaign finance reports is available only in hard copy and may be requested by telephone or in person at the Commission’s public viewing room.

Requests for blank reporting forms or agency publications are filled and mailed the following business day of the request.  Orders for reports filed with the Commission are processed in the order of their receipt.  The volume and size of orders received will determine the time necessary to fill the order.  Generally, orders are processed and mailed within two weeks of receipt.  (Cost for orders is 10 cents per page plus postage, if applicable.  Orders must be prepaid at the time of the request.)

Advisory opinions requests are answered, by law, within 60 days.  Advisory opinions are adopted at public meetings of the Commission, which are generally held the second Friday of each month.  Sworn complaints are processed within 14 working days of receipt with a letter to both the complainant and the respondent regarding the Commission’s determination of compliance or non-compliance.

Customer Service

The Texas Ethics Commission is dedicated to the highest level of customer service. In order to attain that level, we will deliver our services efficiently, economically, accurately, and timely in a friendly, conscientious, fair, and ethical manner. It is the purpose of the Texas Ethics Commission to serve the people of Texas. We are accountable for our services.  If you are not happy with the service you have received or if you’ve had a positive experience, please direct comments to:

Ms. Becky Levy
Customer Service Representative
Texas Ethics Commission
P. O. Box 12070
Austin, TX 78711-2070
or
201 E. 14th St.
Sam Houston Building-10th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
Phone (512) 463-5800
Fax (512) 463-8808
becky.levy@ethics.state.tx.us

Complaints will be reviewed by the Executive Director and addressed in writing within 3 business days of receipt.

Customer-Related Performance Measures

Outcome Measures

• Percentage of surveyed customer respondents expressing overall satisfaction with services received.

• Percentage of surveyed customer respondents identifying ways to improve service delivery.

• Percentage of requests for copy orders of reports filled within 2 weeks (10 business days) of receipt.

Efficiency Measures

• Average number of business days to complete an order.

• Average number of pages per order.

Output Measures

• Number of customers surveyed

• Number of customers served.

• Number of requests for copy orders filled within 2 weeks.

Explanatory Measures

• Number of requests for copy orders received.

• Total number of pages for copy orders.