HBA-LCA, PDH H.B. 403 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 403
By: Madden
Elections
3/8/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the law prohibits a person from knowingly making a political
contribution to a statewide officeholder, legislator, or specific-purpose
committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting a statewide officeholder
or legislator from the 30th day before a regular legislative session begins
and continuing through the day of final adjournment.  H.B. 403 provides
that a newly elected statewide officeholder, legislator, or
specific-purpose committee may accept political contributions until noon
the day before a regular legislative session begins if specific
circumstances are applicable. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 253.034 (a), Election Code, to provide an
exception, established in Section 253.0342, as added by this Act to the
prohibition against a person knowingly making political contributions to a
state officeholder, a legislator, or a specific-purpose committee
supporting, opposing, or assisting a state officeholder or legislator
during the period from 30 days prior to a regular legislative session
convening until final adjournment, except as provided in Section 253.0342. 

SECTION 2.  Amends  Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, by adding
Section 253.0342, as follows: 

Sec. 253.0342.  EXCEPTION TO RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS IMMEDIATELY
BEFORE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.  Provides that the period prescribed by
Section 253.034 begins at noon the day before a regular legislative session
convenes if the contribution is accepted by a newly elected state
officeholder, legislator, or specific-purpose committee supporting,
opposing, or assisting a newly elected state officeholder or legislator and
the person to whom the contribution is made has a campaign debt without
sufficient contributions to retire debt on the 30th day before session
convenes. Authorizes the acceptance of political contributions needed to
retire debt and leave a balance of not more than $2,500 in contributions.
Defines "negotiable instrument" according to Section 3.104 (Negotiable
Instrument), Business & Commerce Code. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.