By Isett                                              H.B. No. 2784
         76R5617 PAM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to extending the period for making or accepting political
 1-3     contributions before a regular legislative session in certain
 1-4     circumstances.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 253.034(a), Election Code, is amended to
 1-7     read as follows:
 1-8           (a)  Except as provided by Section 253.0342, during [During]
 1-9     the period beginning on the 30th day before the date a regular
1-10     legislative session convenes and continuing through the day of
1-11     final adjournment, a person may not knowingly make a political
1-12     contribution to:
1-13                 (1)  a statewide officeholder;
1-14                 (2)  a member of the legislature; or
1-15                 (3)  a specific-purpose committee for supporting,
1-16     opposing, or assisting a statewide officeholder or member of the
1-17     legislature.
1-18           SECTION 2.  Section 253.0341(a), Election Code, is amended to
1-19     read as follows:
1-20           (a)  Except as provided by Section 253.0342, during [During]
1-21     the period beginning on the 30th day before the date a regular
1-22     legislative session convenes and continuing through the day of
1-23     final adjournment, a person not a member of the caucus may not
1-24     knowingly make a contribution to a legislative caucus.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, is
 2-2     amended by adding Section 253.0342 to read as follows:
 2-3           Sec. 253.0342.  EXTENDING PERIOD FOR MAKING OR ACCEPTING
 2-4     CONTRIBUTIONS BEFORE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.  If the last day
 2-5     for making or accepting a contribution under Section 253.034 or
 2-6     253.0341 is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday,
 2-7     the restricted period prescribed by those sections begins on the
 2-8     day after the next regular business day.
 2-9           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-10           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.