By Denny                                               H.B. No. 407
         77R2006 ESH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the reporting of certain political contributions made
 1-3     in connection with a statewide office.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 254.038(a), Election Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  In addition to other reports required by this chapter,
 1-8     the following persons shall file additional reports during the
 1-9     period beginning the ninth day before election day and ending at 12
1-10     noon on the second day before election day:
1-11                 (1)  a candidate for statewide office who has an
1-12     opponent whose name is to appear on the ballot and who accepts
1-13     political contributions from a person that in the aggregate exceed
1-14     $1,000 during that reporting period;
1-15                 (2)  a candidate for state senator who has an opponent
1-16     whose name is to appear on the ballot and who accepts political
1-17     contributions from a person that in the aggregate exceed $1,000
1-18     during that reporting period;
1-19                 (3) [(2)]  a candidate for state representative who has
1-20     an opponent whose name is to appear on the ballot and who accepts
1-21     political contributions from a person that in the aggregate exceed
1-22     $200 during that reporting period;
1-23                 (4)  a specific-purpose committee for supporting or
1-24     opposing a candidate for statewide office and that accepts
 2-1     political contributions from a person that in the aggregate exceed
 2-2     $1,000 during that reporting period;
 2-3                 (5) [(3)]  a specific-purpose committee for supporting
 2-4     or opposing a candidate for state senator and that accepts
 2-5     political contributions from a person that in the aggregate exceed
 2-6     $1,000 during that reporting period; and
 2-7                 (6) [(4)]  a specific-purpose committee for supporting
 2-8     or opposing a candidate for state representative and that accepts
 2-9     political contributions from a person that in the aggregate exceed
2-10     $200 during that reporting period.
2-11           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-12           SECTION 3.  Section 254.038, Election Code, as amended by
2-13     this Act, applies only to the reporting of a political contribution
2-14     accepted on or after September 1, 2001.  The reporting of a
2-15     political contribution accepted before September 1, 2001, is
2-16     governed by the law in effect on the date the contribution is
2-17     accepted, and the former law is continued in effect for that
2-18     purpose.