By Hirschi H.B. No. 1840
74R456 KLL-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to reporting requirements for candidates, officeholders,
1-3 and political committees that accept political contributions or
1-4 make political expenditures that do not exceed a specified amount.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 254.095, Election Code, is amended to
1-7 read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 254.095. Report not Required. If at the end of any
1-9 reporting period prescribed by this subchapter an officeholder who
1-10 is required to file a report with an authority other than the
1-11 commission has not accepted political contributions that in the
1-12 aggregate exceed $500 or the filing fee for that office, whichever
1-13 is greater, or made political expenditures that in the aggregate
1-14 exceed $500 or the filing fee for that office, whichever is
1-15 greater, the officeholder is not required to file a report covering
1-16 that period.
1-17 SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter G, Chapter 254,
1-18 Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-19 SUBCHAPTER G. MODIFIED REPORTING PROCEDURES; <$500>
1-20 MAXIMUM IN CONTRIBUTIONS OR EXPENDITURES
1-21 SECTION 3. Section 254.181, Election Code, is amended to
1-22 read as follows:
1-23 Sec. 254.181. Modified Reporting Authorized. (a) An
1-24 opposed candidate or specific-purpose committee required to file
2-1 reports under Subchapter C or E may file a report under this
2-2 subchapter instead if the candidate or committee does not intend to
2-3 accept political contributions that in the aggregate exceed $500 or
2-4 the filing fee for that office, whichever is greater, or to make
2-5 political expenditures that in the aggregate exceed $500 or the
2-6 filing fee for that office, whichever is greater, in connection
2-7 with the election.
2-8 (b) The amount of a filing fee paid by a candidate is
2-9 excluded from the <$500> maximum expenditure permitted under this
2-10 section.
2-11 SECTION 4. Section 254.182, Election Code, is amended to
2-12 read as follows:
2-13 Sec. 254.182. Declaration of Intent Required. (a) To be
2-14 entitled to file reports under this subchapter, an opposed
2-15 candidate or specific-purpose committee must file with the campaign
2-16 treasurer appointment a written declaration of intent not to exceed
2-17 $500 or the filing fee for that office, whichever is greater, in
2-18 political contributions or political expenditures in the election.
2-19 (b) The declaration of intent must contain a statement that
2-20 the candidate or committee understands that if the <$500> maximum
2-21 for contributions and expenditures is exceeded, the candidate or
2-22 committee is required to file reports under Subchapter C or E, as
2-23 applicable.
2-24 SECTION 5. Sections 254.183(a) and (b), Election Code, are
2-25 amended to read as follows:
2-26 (a) An opposed candidate or specific-purpose committee that
2-27 exceeds $500 or the filing fee for that office, whichever is
3-1 greater, in political contributions or political expenditures in
3-2 the election shall file reports as required by Subchapter C or E,
3-3 as applicable.
3-4 (b) If a candidate or committee exceeds the <$500> maximum
3-5 after the filing deadline prescribed by Subchapter C or E for the
3-6 first report required to be filed under the appropriate subchapter,
3-7 the candidate or committee shall file a report not later than 48
3-8 hours after the maximum is exceeded.
3-9 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
3-10 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
3-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.