By Capelo H.B. No. 1180 77R2047 DRH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to disclosure of a contact between an officer of a 1-3 political party and a judge regarding a proceeding pending before 1-4 the 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 OFFICER 1-9 OF POLITICAL PARTY AND JUDGE. (a) This section applies only to the 1-10 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) An officer of a political party shall disclose each 1-15 contact the officer has with a judge of this state 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) A person commits an offense if the person fails to make 1-24 a disclosure as required by this section. An offense under this 2-1 section is a Class A misdemeanor. 2-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.