SRC-JBJ S.B. 822 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 822
77R873 ESH-DBy: West, Royce
Jurisprudence
3/15/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act sets forth aggregate
contribution limits and limits on the reimbursement of personal funds that
are applicable to judicial candidates in connection with each election in
which the candidate is involved.  As proposed, S.B. 822 sets forth
provisions to establish one set of contribution limits for unopposed
judicial candidates. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 253F, Election Code, by adding Section 253.1621,
as follows: 

Sec. 253.1621.  APPLICATION OF CONTRIBUTION AND REIMBURSEMENT LIMITS TO
CERTAIN CANDIDATES.  Provides that for the purposes of a contribution limit
prescribed by certain sections and the limit on reimbursement of personal
funds prescribed by Section 253.162, the general primary election and
general election for state and county officers are considered to be a
single election in which a judicial candidate is involved if the candidate
is unopposed in the primary election or does not have an opponent in the
general election whose name is to appear on the ballot. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 253.155(a), Election Code, to add that the
application of this subsection is subject to Section 253.1621. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 253.157(a), Election Code, to delete existing
text pertaining to a specific purpose committee.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 253.160(a), Election Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 253.162(a), Election Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 6.  Makes application of this Act prospective. 

SECTION 7.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.