BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 485
By: Denny
04-28-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

     Under current law a it is considered a political contribution
or political expenditure if an organization or club affiliated with
a political party holds a meeting during the 20 days preceding the
date of a primary election, the general election for state and
county officers, or a special election in which the candidate is
involved.

PURPOSE

     The purpose of this bill is to allow a candidate to appear
before an organization or club affiliated with a political party at
any time preceding an election without his/her appearance being
considered a political contribution or political expenditure.  This
would allow organizations or clubs affiliated with political
parties the opportunity to meet with candidates just prior to the
election to allow their members the opportunity for final
evaluation of the candidates.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

     SECTION 1 Amends Section 251.008 (a), Election Code, by
deleting Subsection (a) (2) pertaining to the meeting time
exclusion prior to an election that a candidate may be involved in.

     SECTION 2 EFFECTIVE DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 1995.

     SECTION 3 EMERGENCY CLAUSE.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

HB 485 was considered by the Committee on Elections in a public
hearing on April 12, 1995.  The following persons testified in
favor of HB 485:  Dona C. Bruns, political action committee chair
for the Texas Federation of Republican Women;  Alice Louise Foster
representing the Texas Federation of Republican Women; and Steve
McDonald representing the Texas Democratic Party.  The Chair left
HB 485 pending.

HB 485 was considered by the Committee on Elections in a public
hearing on April 26, 1995.  HB 485 was reported favorably without
amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed
and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a
record vote of: 9 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 PNV, 0 ABSENT.