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.