HBA-DMH, CMT H.B. 441 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 441
By: Madden
Elections
2/25/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to Ethics Advisory Opinion 1984-2 the law allows a person to
retain unexpended campaign contribution for six years after that person is
no longer a candidate or officeholder.  House Bill 441 reduces from 6 to 4
years the period of time during which a person may retain unexpended
campaign contributions. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 441 amends the Election Code to prohibit a person from retaining
political contributions, assets purchased with political contributions, or
interest and other income earned on the contributions for more than four
years after the date the person leaves office or the date of the most
recent election in which the person was a candidate, whichever is later.
The bill removes the provision that a person may not retain political
contributions for more than six years after filing a final report relating
to unexpected political contributions.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.