H.B. 1991 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 1991
By: Brown, Betty
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires campaign pledges be reported as contributions on
campaign finance reports. These pledges must be reported even if the
contribution is never received by the candidate.  Many believe this
provides inaccurate campaign finance reporting.  House Bill 1991 would
eliminate the reporting of "offered" contributions to political campaigns. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 
        

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1991 amends the Election Code by deleting, from the definition
of contribution, for the purposes of the regulation and reporting of
political contributions, an agreement made or other obligation incurred,
whether legally enforceable or not, to make a transfer of money, goods,
services, or any other thing of value.  The bill removes contributions
offered from the definitions of campaign contribution and officeholder
contribution. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2004.