IMF H.B. 1659 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


STATE AFFAIRS
H.B. 1659
By: Gallego
4-27-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

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. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1659 would change the definition of "Elected officer" to
include a district attorney or criminal district attorney.  This change
would apply all state personal financial disclosure statement requirement
to district attorneys and criminal district attorneys. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 572.002 (4) of the Government Code to add
district attorney or criminal district attorney to the definition of
"Elected officer." 

SECTION 2.  Amends the heading to Chapter 159 of the Local Government Code
to "FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE BY COUNTY [OR DISTRICT] OFFICERS AND [COUNTY]
EMPLOYEES." 

SECTION 3.  Amends the heading to Subchapter A, Chapter 159 of the Local
Government Code to "FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE BY CERTAIN COUNTY [OR DISTRICT]
OFFICERS. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 159.002 (2) of the Local Government Code with a
conforming change. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 159.004 (a) of the Local Government Code with a
conforming change. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 159.005 (a) of the Local Government Code with a
conforming change. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 159.008 of the Local Government Code with
conforming changes. 

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 159.009 (a) and (c) of the Local Government
Code with conforming changes. 

SECTION 9.  Amends Section 159.014 (a) and (c) of the Local Government
Code with conforming changes. 
 
SECTION 10.  Effective date:  September 1, 1997.

SECTION 11 (a).  Requires a district attorney or criminal district
attorney to file a personal financial disclosure statement with the Texas
Ethics Commission for 1997 as if he/she were subject to the requirement
for the entire year.  Provides that a district attorney or criminal
district attorney who was subject to Subchapter A, Chapter 159 of the
Local Government Code is not required to submit a personal financial
disclosure statement for 1997. 

SECTION 11 (b)-(c).  Makes this Act prospective.

SECTION 12.  Emergency clause.