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


Senate Research CenterS.B. 822
77R12388 ESH-DBy: West, Royce
Jurisprudence
4/10/2001

Committee Report (Amended) 

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.  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
(a) and (b), as follows: 

Sec. 253.1621.  APPLICATION OF CONTRIBUTION AND REIMBURSEMENT LIMITS TO
CERTAIN CANDIDATES.  (a) 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. 

(b)  Provides that for a candidate to whom Subsection (a) applies, each
applicable contribution limit prescribed by Section 253.155, 253.157, or
253.160 is increased by 25 percent.  Provides that a candidate who accepts
the applicable contribution limit prescribed by Section 253.155, 253.157,
or 253.160 and accepts contributions from a person that in the aggregate
exceed the adjusted limit as determined under this subsection may use the
amount of those contributions that exceeds the limit prescribed by Section
253.155, 253.157, or 253.160 only for making an officeholder expenditure. 

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.
 


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends S.B. 822 by adding Subsection (b) in Section 253.1621, Election Code.