By Danburg H.B. No. 2221
76R3345 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation of certain political contributions by
1-3 candidates; providing a criminal penalty.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 252.0032, Election Code, is amended by
1-6 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
1-7 follows:
1-8 (a) In addition to the information required by Section
1-9 252.002, a campaign treasurer appointment by a candidate must
1-10 include:
1-11 (1) the candidate's telephone number; [and]
1-12 (2) a statement, signed by the candidate, that the
1-13 candidate is aware of the nepotism law, Chapter 573, Government
1-14 Code; and
1-15 (3) the full name and address of each general-purpose
1-16 committee or candidate to whom the candidate intends to make
1-17 political contributions.
1-18 (c) If any of the information required to be included in a
1-19 candidate's appointment changes, the candidate shall promptly file
1-20 an amended appointment with the authority with whom the
1-21 appointment is required to be filed.
1-22 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, is
1-23 amended by adding Section 253.040 to read as follows:
1-24 Sec. 253.040. LIMITATION ON CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS BY
2-1 CANDIDATES. (a) A candidate may not knowingly make or authorize a
2-2 political contribution to a general-purpose committee or to another
2-3 candidate unless the candidate's campaign treasurer appointment
2-4 listing the committee or the other candidate has been filed not
2-5 later than the 30th day before the date the contribution is made.
2-6 (b) This section does not apply to a political contribution
2-7 consisting of the purchase of a ticket to a fundraising dinner or
2-8 similar event if the cost of the ticket does not exceed the value
2-9 received by the person attending the dinner or event.
2-10 (c) A person who violates this section commits an offense.
2-11 An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
2-12 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-13 SECTION 4. Section 253.040, Election Code, as added by this
2-14 Act, applies only to a political contribution made on or after
2-15 September 1, 1999. A political contribution made before September
2-16 1, 1999, is governed by the law in effect at the time the
2-17 contribution was made, and the former law is continued in effect
2-18 for that purpose.
2-19 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-20 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-21 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-22 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-23 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.