By Madden                                              H.B. No. 441
         77R2030 PAM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the disposition of unexpended political contributions. 
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 254.203(a), Election Code, is amended to
 1-5     read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  A person may not retain political contributions covered
 1-7     by this title, assets purchased with the contributions, or interest
 1-8     and other income earned on the contributions for more than four
 1-9     [six] years after the later of:
1-10                 (1)  the date the person [either] ceases to be an
1-11     officeholder; or
1-12                 (2)  the date of the most recent election in which the
1-13     person was a candidate [or files a final report under this chapter,
1-14     whichever is later].
1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-16           SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding Section 254.203, Election Code,
1-17     as that section existed before amendment by this Act, a person who
1-18     ceased to be an officeholder or who was last a candidate in an
1-19     election before September 1, 1997, shall, not later than January 1,
1-20     2002, dispose of unexpended political contributions, assets
1-21     purchased with political contributions, and interest  or other
1-22     income earned on political contributions in compliance with Section
1-23     254.203, Election Code, as amended by this Act.  A person who
1-24     ceased to be an officeholder or candidate on or after September 1,
 2-1     1997, shall dispose of unexpended political contributions, assets
 2-2     purchased with political contributions, and interest or other
 2-3     income earned on political contributions in compliance with Section
 2-4     254.203, Election Code, as amended by this Act, regardless of
 2-5     whether the person has filed a final report under Chapter 254,
 2-6     Election Code.