C.S.S.B. 244 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.S.B. 244
By: West
Elections
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, statewide officeholders and members of the legislature
may accept political contributions once the legislative session has ended.
According to the Article 4 of the Texas Constitution, the governor may
veto legislation until the 20th day after final adjournment has passed.
This creates a period when legislation is still under consideration and
political contributions are also allowed.  Some individuals feel this
could lead to a conflict of interest for certain officeholders. CSSB 244
prohibits an individual from making a contribution to a statewide
officeholder or member of the legislature during the period in which the
governor may veto a bill. 


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

CSSB 244 amends the Election Code by prohibiting a person from knowingly
making a political contribution to statewide officers, legislators, and
specific purpose committees until after the 20th day after the date of
final adjournment of the regular legislative session, rather than until
after the day of final adjournment.  


EFFECTIVE DATE 

Upon passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary votes, the Act
takes effect on September 1, 2003. 


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

CSSB 244 modifies the original by specifying the last day on which the
governor may veto a bill.