Bill Tracker: SB 601 and 602 – Restricting Actions of Police Organizations

Senator Van de Putte introduced SB 601 and 602. These bills arduously restrict the activities of labor organizations that represent peace officers when and if the labor organization accepts state funding.

SB 602 prohibits a labor organization that represents peace officers from: 1) establishing a political committee, 2) assisting a political committee in performing political activities, and 3) making political contributions or political expenditures IF the labor organization accepts a grant or appropriated money from a state agency.

SB 601 prevents a state agency from distributing any money to a peace officer labor organization that is required to register with the Texas Ethics Commission, employs lobbyists, or provides legal representation to its members.

When asked about these two bills, Senator Van de Putte stated,

"Senate Bills 601 and 602 are limited to law enforcement unions that take taxpayer money through grant programs. No other type of union or association is affected by this legislation. My local (San Antonio) police union asked that I file these bills to address a specific problem. Taxpayers should not be funding political organizations."

The bill analysis claims that ethical questions are raised when state agencies provide funds to organizations that are involved in the political process. The analysis section also recognizes that peace office labor organizations have asked state agencies for money to assist in training required by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

Police officers pay dues to their labor organizations to have a voice in the political process, but they can’t use that voice because they accepted state money for training programs? Is this solution of not accepting any state funds acceptable?

If these types of bills are passed, the precedent could be monumental. Can we all think of other examples of organized groups in Texas that take state grants for a particular purpose, but also lobby the Legislature with their own money on other issues?