By Capelo H.B. No. 1180 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1180: By Denny C.S.H.B. No. 1180 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to disclosure of a contact between a judge and an officer 1-3 of a political party regarding a proceeding pending before the 1-4 judge; providing a criminal penalty. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Election Code, is amended by adding 1-7 Section 161.011 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 161.011. DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN CONTACTS BETWEEN JUDGE 1-9 AND OFFICER OF POLITICAL PARTY. (a) This section applies only to 1-10 the following officers of a political party: 1-11 (1) a member of the state executive committee; 1-12 (2) a county chair; and 1-13 (3) a precinct chair. 1-14 (b) A judge of this state shall disclose each contact the 1-15 judge has with an officer of a political party in regard to a 1-16 judicial proceeding pending before that judge that occurs outside 1-17 of an official proceeding conducted by the judge. 1-18 (c) A disclosure under Subsection (b) must: 1-19 (1) describe the nature and content of the contact; 1-20 (2) be sent to each party to the proceeding; and 1-21 (3) be filed and available for public inspection in 1-22 the records of the proceeding. 1-23 (d) At the same time the judge provides a disclosure under 1-24 Subsection (b), the judge shall issue a written notice to the 2-1 political party officer who has a contact with the judge under 2-2 Subsection (b) informing the officer that the officer's contact is 2-3 improper and may constitute an offense under Chapter 36, Penal 2-4 Code. 2-5 (e) A political party officer who makes a subsequent contact 2-6 with the judge on the same matter after receiving notice under 2-7 Subsection (d) commits an offense. An offense under this 2-8 Subsection is a Class A misdemeanor. 2-9 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.