78R6055 ATP-D

By:  Denny                                                        H.B. No. 1501



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the filing of campaign treasurer appointments and 
reports of political contributions and expenditures by candidates 
for, holders of, and specific-purpose committees for supporting or 
opposing candidates for or assisting holders of county, precinct, 
and certain district offices.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 252.005, Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 252.005.  AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED:  
CANDIDATE.  An individual must file a campaign treasurer 
appointment for the individual's own candidacy with:
		(1)  the commission, if the appointment is made for 
candidacy for:          
			(A)  a statewide office;                                                     
			(B)  a district office filled by voters of more 
than one county;           
			(C)  a judicial district office filled by voters 
of only one county;       
			(D)  state senator;                                                          
			(E)  state representative; [or]                             
			(F)  the State Board of Education;                                           
			(G)  a county or precinct office; or                                  
			(H)  district attorney or criminal district 
attorney;               
		(2)  the county clerk, if the appointment is made for 
candidacy for [a county office, a precinct office, or] a district 
office other than one included in Subdivision (1);
		(3)  the clerk or secretary of the governing body of the 
political subdivision or, if the political subdivision has no clerk 
or secretary, with the governing body's presiding officer, if the 
appointment is made for candidacy for an office of a political 
subdivision other than a county;
		(4)  the county clerk if:                                                     
			(A)  the appointment is made for candidacy for an 
office of a political subdivision other than a county;
			(B)  the governing body for the political 
subdivision has not been formed; and
			(C)  no boundary of the political subdivision 
crosses a boundary of the county; or
		(5)  the commission if:                                                       
			(A)  the appointment is made for candidacy for an 
office of a political subdivision other than a county;
			(B)  the governing body for the political 
subdivision has not been formed; and
			(C)  the political subdivision is situated in more 
than one county.        
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           
	SECTION 3.  (a)  A person who, on September 1, 2003, is a 
candidate for an office described by Section 252.005(1)(G) or (H), 
Election Code, as added by this Act, or a specific-purpose 
committee for supporting or opposing such a candidate or assisting 
such a candidate as officeholder shall file a campaign treasurer 
appointment with the Texas Ethics Commission not later than 
September 15, 2003.
	(b)  This Act applies only to the filing of a report of 
political contributions and political expenditures under Chapter 
254, Election Code, that is due on or after January 1, 2004.  A 
report of political contributions and political expenditures under 
Chapter 254, Election Code, that is due before January 1, 2004, is 
governed by the law in effect on the date the report is due, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.