SRC-MSY, LBB S.B. 244 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 244
78R792 ESH-DBy: West
State Affairs
3/10/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, statewide officeholders, legislators, and their
campaigns are prohibited from receiving political contributions during the
regular legislative session.  Because this prohibition ends on the last
day of the legislative session, the governor can receive and solicit
contributions while considering whether to sign or veto legislation from
the session.  As proposed, S.B. 244 amends the Election Code to prohibit
the governor or the governor's campaign from accepting contributions
during the veto period. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 253.034, Election Code, as follows:

 Sec.  253.034.  New heading:  RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS DURING AND 
FOLLOWING REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.  (b)  Prohibits a person, during
certain periods, from knowingly making a political contribution to the
governor or a specificpurpose committee for supporting, opposing, or
assisting the governor. 

 (c)  Makes a conforming change regarding relettering of subsections.

(d)  Prohibits the governor or a specific-purpose committee for
supporting, opposing, or assisting the governor from knowingly accepting a
political contribution, and requires refusal of political contributions
received, during the period prescribed by Subsection (b). 

(e)  Provides that the period referred to for accepting a political
contribution is that period prescribed by Subsection (a) or (b).  Makes a
conforming change regarding relettering of subsections.  Makes
nonsubstantive changes. 

(f)  Redefines the person accepting a political contribution to be the
person on whose behalf the contribution is accepted rather than the person
accepting the contribution.  Redesignated from existing Subsection (c).
Makes nonsubstantive changes. 
 
 (g)-(h) Redesignated from existing Subsections (d)-(e).

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.