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.