By Bosse H.B. No. 1126 74R4910 KLL-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to limiting political contributions for certain offices; 1-3 providing a criminal penalty. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 253.043 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 253.043. LIMITATIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS IN CONNECTION 1-8 WITH STATEWIDE OR DISTRICT OFFICE. (a) Except as provided by 1-9 Subsection (b), a person may not knowingly make or authorize 1-10 political contributions to a candidate for or holder of an office 1-11 covered by this section, or to a specific-purpose committee for 1-12 supporting or opposing the candidate or assisting the officeholder, 1-13 that in the aggregate exceed the following amounts in a calendar 1-14 year: 1-15 (1) for a district office, $2,500; and 1-16 (2) for a statewide office, $10,000. 1-17 (b) During a year in which an office covered by this section 1-18 is on the ballot, a person may not knowingly make or authorize 1-19 political contributions to a candidate for the office, or to a 1-20 specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting 1-21 that person, that in the aggregate exceed the following amounts for 1-22 each election in which the candidate is involved: 1-23 (1) for a district office, $2,500; and 1-24 (2) for a statewide office, $10,000. 2-1 (c) A person may not knowingly accept political 2-2 contributions in violation of Subsection (a) or (b). 2-3 (d) A person who violates this section commits an offense. 2-4 An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. 2-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 1996. 2-6 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.