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.