HBA-LCA, H.B. 1835 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1835 By: Naishtat Elections 3/15/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1991, the 72nd Legislature passed an ethics reform law to limit the amount of political contributions statewide candidates may use to repay personal loans to their campaigns. Under that law, a candidate is still able to guarantee a bank loan to his or her campaign without a limit on the amount of political contributions he or she may use to repay that loan. H.B. 1835 prohibits statewide or judicial candidates from repaying loans for which the candidate is personally liable with political contributions in amounts that exceed current limits. 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 253.042(b), Election Code, to prohibit a candidate or officeholder from using political contributions, in amounts that in the aggregate exceed the amount prescribed by Subsection (a), to repay a loan or extension of credit for which the candidate or officeholder is personally liable. SECTION 2. Amends Section 253.162, Election Code, as follows: (b) Prohibits a judicial candidate or officeholder from using political contributions to repay a loan, including an extension of credit or guarantee of a loan, from a relative. Prohibits a judicial candidate or officeholder from using political contributions, in amounts that in the aggregate exceed the amount prescribed by Subsection (a), to repay any other loan or extension of credit for which the candidate or officeholder is personally liable. (c) Prohibits the total amount of reimbursements and repayments from exceeding the amount prescribed by Subsection (a). (d) Requires a person who is both a candidate and an officeholder to repay loans from political contributions only in one capacity. Created from existing text. (e) Redesignated from existing Subsection (d). SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.