By Uher                                               H.B. No. 1527
       74R5801 SRC-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to designating speaker's day as a day to honor former
    1-3  members of the house of representatives.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 303.001(2), Government Code, is amended
    1-6  to read as follows:
    1-7              (2)  "Speaker's reunion day ceremony" means a ceremony
    1-8  held <during the tenure of the speaker of the house of
    1-9  representatives> to honor former members of the house of
   1-10  representatives <the speaker> for their <the speaker's> service to
   1-11  the state.
   1-12        SECTION 2.  Section 303.002(a), Government Code, is amended
   1-13  to read as follows:
   1-14        (a)  Before any contributions are accepted or any
   1-15  expenditures are made for a governor for a day or speaker's reunion
   1-16  day ceremony, the president pro tempore or the speaker, as
   1-17  appropriate, shall designate a chairman to be responsible for
   1-18  conducting the ceremony.
   1-19        SECTION 3.  Section 303.003, Government Code, is amended to
   1-20  read as follows:
   1-21        Sec. 303.003.  CONTRIBUTIONS.  (a)  An individual,
   1-22  association, corporation, or other legal entity may contribute
   1-23  funds, services, or other things of value to defray the expenses of
   1-24  the governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremony.  A
    2-1  contribution under this subsection is not a political contribution
    2-2  for purposes of state law regulating political contributions or
    2-3  prohibiting political contributions by corporations or labor
    2-4  organizations.
    2-5        (b)  The chairman shall keep a record of each contribution
    2-6  received to defray the expenses of the governor for a day or
    2-7  speaker's reunion day ceremony.
    2-8        (c)  Contributions from a contributor to the speaker's
    2-9  reunion day ceremony may not exceed an aggregate of $100 cash or an
   2-10  aggregate value of more than $100.
   2-11        SECTION 4.  Section 303.004, Government Code, is amended to
   2-12  read as follows:
   2-13        Sec. 303.004.  EXPENDITURES.  (a)  The chairman may authorize
   2-14  the expenditure of funds for:
   2-15              (1)  printing;
   2-16              (2)  employment of staff;
   2-17              (3)  professional and consultant fees;
   2-18              (4)  postage, telephone, and telegraph expenses;  and
   2-19              (5)  any other purpose reasonably related to conducting
   2-20  the governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremony, including
   2-21  fund raising.
   2-22        (b)  The chairman shall keep a record of each expenditure
   2-23  related to the governor for a day or speaker's reunion day
   2-24  ceremony.
   2-25        SECTION 5.  Section 303.005(a), Government Code, is amended
   2-26  to read as follows:
   2-27        (a)  Not later than the 60th day after the date on which the
    3-1  governor for a day or speaker's reunion day ceremony occurs, the
    3-2  chairman shall file with the secretary of state a final report
    3-3  indicating:
    3-4              (1)  the name and address of each contributor of more
    3-5  than $50;
    3-6              (2)  the amount of each contribution of more than $50;
    3-7              (3)  whether a contribution of more than $50 was in
    3-8  cash or in kind;
    3-9              (4)  the total of all contributions of $50 or less;
   3-10              (5)  the total of all contributions received;
   3-11              (6)  the name and address of each entity to which an
   3-12  expenditure of more than $50 was made;
   3-13              (7)  the amount of each expenditure of more than $50;
   3-14              (8)  the purpose of each expenditure of more than $50;
   3-15              (9)  the total of all expenditures of $50 or less;  and
   3-16              (10)  the total of all expenditures.
   3-17        SECTION 6.  The importance of this legislation and the
   3-18  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   3-19  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   3-20  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   3-21  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   3-22  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   3-23  passage, and it is so enacted.