HBA-RBT H.B. 2222 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2222 By: Danburg Elections 3/14/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In some instances, a person may contribute to a candidate or political action committee (PAC). The PAC may then make a contribution to a candidate without the consent of the original donor. The contributor then may be supporting a candidate they never would have supported knowingly. H.B. 2222 requires a candidate to provide in the report already required of the candidate, the name and address of a general-purpose committee or candidate to whom the candidate is contributing. This bill further requires a candidate to adhere to statutory notice provisions regarding these types of donations, with certain exceptions. 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 Sections 252.003(a) and (b), Election Code, to provide that a campaign treasurer appointment by a general-purpose committee must include the full name and address of each candidate to whom the committee intends to make political contributions. Provides that a general-purpose committee that files monthly reports as provided by Section 254.155 (Option to File Monthly; Notice) is not required to file an amended appointment if the only information that changes is the information required to be included under Subsection (a)(3), but must include the changed information in the first amended appointment the committee is otherwise required to file under this subsection or Section 252.002(b) (Contents of Appointment). SECTION 2. Amends Section 252.0032, Election Code, to provide that a campaign treasurer appointment by a candidate must include the full name and address of each general-purpose committee or candidate to whom the candidate intends to make political contributions. Requires a candidate to promptly file an amended appointment with the authority with whom the appointment is required to be filed if any of the information required to be included in a candidate's appointment changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 253.037, Election Code, to prohibit a general-purpose committee other than a committee that files monthly reports as provided by Section 254.155 from making a political contribution to a candidate unless the committee's campaign treasurer appointment listing the candidate has been filed within 30 days, except that this section does not apply to a political contribution consisting of the purchase of a ticket to a fundraising dinner or similar event if the cost of the ticket does not exceed the value received by the person attending the dinner or event. SECTION 4. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, by adding Section 253.040, as follows: Sec. 253.040. LIMITATION ON CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS BY CANDIDATES. Prohibits a candidate from knowingly making or authorizing a political contribution to a general-purpose committee or to another candidate unless the candidate's campaign treasurer appointment listing the committee or the other candidate has been filed within 30 days, except that this section does not apply to a political contribution consisting of the purchase of a ticket to a fundraising dinner or similar event if the cost of the ticket does not exceed the value received by the person attending the dinner or event. Provides that a violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 6. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 7. Emergency clause.