78R5146 DRH-D

By:  Villarreal                                                   H.B. No. 1335



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to 
regulate political campaigns; providing a penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Title 15, Election Code, is amended by adding 
Chapter 259 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 259.  REGULATION BY CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
	Sec. 259.001.  (a)  The commissioners court of a county or 
the governing body of a school district or a junior college district 
may regulate:
		(1)  political contributions to and expenditures by a 
candidate for or officeholder of an elected office in the county or 
district, as appropriate; or
		(2)  political contributions and expenditures related 
to an election on a measure by the county or district, as 
appropriate.
	(b)  A regulation authorized by Subsection (a) may not be 
inconsistent with a provision of this title, except that the 
commissioners court or governing body may adopt a regulation that 
is more stringent than a provision of this title.
	(c)  The county or district, as appropriate, in a suit 
brought in the district court is entitled to appropriate injunctive 
relief to prevent the violation or threatened violation of a 
regulation adopted under this section from continuing or occurring.
	(d)  A person commits an offense if the person violates a 
regulation adopted under this section.  An offense under this 
section is a Class C misdemeanor.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.