By Villarreal                                         H.B. No. 2791
         77R8319 ESH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the provision by the Texas Ethics Commission of copies
 1-3     of forms for personal financial statements.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Sections 572.030(b) and (c), Government Code, are
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  The commission shall mail one copy [two copies] of the
 1-8     financial statement form to each individual required to file under
 1-9     this subchapter.
1-10           (c)  The copy [copies] must be mailed:
1-11                 (1)  before the 30th day before the deadline for filing
1-12     the financial statement under Section 572.026(a) or (c), except as
1-13     otherwise provided by this subsection;
1-14                 (2)  not later than the 15th day after the applicable
1-15     deadline for filing an application for a place on the ballot or a
1-16     declaration of write-in candidacy for candidates required to file
1-17     under Section 572.027(a), (b), or (c);
1-18                 (3)  not later than the seventh day after the date of
1-19     appointment for individuals required to file under Section
1-20     572.026(b), or if the legislature is in session, sooner if
1-21     possible; and
1-22                 (4)  not later than the fifth day after the date the
1-23     certificate of nomination is filed for candidates required to file
1-24     under Section 574.027(d).
 2-1           SECTION 2.  Section 572.034(c), Government Code, is amended
 2-2     to read as follows:
 2-3           (c)  In a prosecution for failure to file a financial
 2-4     statement under this section, it is a defense that the individual
 2-5     did not receive the copy [copies] of the financial statement form
 2-6     required by this subchapter to be mailed to the individual.
 2-7           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-8     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-9     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-10     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-11     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.