By Denny                                               H.B. No. 582
         77R2007 ESH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the filing of reports of political contributions and
 1-3     expenditures by holders of and candidates for certain offices in
 1-4     counties over 500,000.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 252.005, Election Code, is amended to
 1-7     read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 252.005.  AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED:
 1-9     CANDIDATE.  An individual must file a campaign treasurer
1-10     appointment for the individual's own candidacy with:
1-11                 (1)  the commission, if the appointment is made for
1-12     candidacy for:
1-13                       (A)  a statewide office;
1-14                       (B)  a district office filled by voters of more
1-15     than one county;
1-16                       (C)  a judicial district office filled by voters
1-17     of only one county;
1-18                       (D)  state senator;
1-19                       (E)  state representative; [or]
1-20                       (F)  the State Board of Education;
1-21                       (G)  a county office in a county with a
1-22     population of 500,000 or more; or
1-23                       (H)  the office of county commissioner in a
1-24     county with a population of 500,000 or more;
 2-1                 (2)  the county clerk, if the appointment is made for
 2-2     candidacy for a county office, [a] precinct office, or [a] district
 2-3     office other than one included in Subdivision (1);
 2-4                 (3)  the clerk or secretary of the governing body of
 2-5     the political subdivision or, if the political subdivision has no
 2-6     clerk or secretary, with the governing body's presiding officer, if
 2-7     the appointment is made for candidacy for an office of a political
 2-8     subdivision other than a county;
 2-9                 (4)  the county clerk if:
2-10                       (A)  the appointment is made for candidacy for an
2-11     office of a political subdivision other than a county;
2-12                       (B)  the governing body for the political
2-13     subdivision has not been formed; and
2-14                       (C)  no boundary of the political subdivision
2-15     crosses a boundary of the county; or
2-16                 (5)  the commission if:
2-17                       (A)  the appointment is made for candidacy for an
2-18     office of a political subdivision other than a county;
2-19                       (B)  the governing body for the political
2-20     subdivision has not been formed; and
2-21                       (C)  the political subdivision is situated in
2-22     more than one county.
2-23           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-24           SECTION 3.  (a)  A person who, on September 1, 2001, is a
2-25     candidate for an office described by Section 252.005(1)(G) or (H),
2-26     Election Code, as added by this Act, or a specific-purpose
2-27     committee for supporting or opposing such a candidate or assisting
 3-1     such a candidate as officeholder shall file a campaign treasurer
 3-2     appointment with the Texas Ethics Commission not later than
 3-3     September 15, 2001.
 3-4           (b)  This Act applies only to the filing of a report of
 3-5     political contributions and political expenditures under Chapter
 3-6     254, Election Code, that is due on or after January 15, 2002.  A
 3-7     report of political contributions and political expenditures under
 3-8     Chapter 254, Election Code, that is due before January 15, 2002, is
 3-9     governed by the law in effect on the date the report is due, and
3-10     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.