SRC-MAX H.B. 1659 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1659 By: Gallego (Ellis) Jurisprudence 5-17-97 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, district attorneys and criminal district attorneys file personal financial disclosure statements by the same requirements as county officials. However, district attorneys and criminal district attorneys do not have to file these statements, in some situations, if they run unopposed. And current law does not make district attorneys file the same type of personal financial disclosure statements. This bill sets forth provisions regarding personal financial disclosure and standards of conduct for district attorneys and criminal district attorneys. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1659 sets forth provisions regarding personal financial disclosure and standards of conduct for district attorneys and criminal district attorneys. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 572.002(4), Government Code, to redefine "elected officer" to mean a district attorney or criminal district attorney. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 159, Local Government Code, as follows: CHAPTER 159. New heading: FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE BY COUNTY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 159A, Government Code, as follows: SUBCHAPTER A. New heading: FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE BY CERTAIN COUNTY OFFICERS SECTION 4. Amends Section 159.002(a), Local Government Code, to redefine "county officer," rather than "county or district officer," to delete district attorney or criminal district attorney from the definition. SECTION 5. Amends Section 159.004(a), Local Government Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 6. Amends Section 159.005(a), Local Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 7. Amends Section 159.008, Local Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 8. Amends Sections 159.009(a) and (c), Local Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 9. Amends Sections 159.014(a) and (c), Local Government Code, to make conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 10. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 11. Requires a district attorney or criminal district attorney to file a personal financial statement for 1997 with the Texas Ethics Commission under Chapter 572, Government Code, as if subject to that chapter for the entire year. Provides that a district attorney or criminal district attorney who was subject to Chapter 159A, Local Government Code, as that subchapter existed before amendment by this Act, is not required to file a personal financial statement for 1997 under this subchapter. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 12. Emergency clause.