78R4917 ESH-D

By:  Denny                                                        H.B. No. 1513



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to salary deductions from public school employees for 
political purposes; providing civil and criminal penalties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 22.0011 to read as follows:
	Sec. 22.0011.  SALARY DEDUCTIONS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES 
PROHIBITED.  (a)  In this section, "political committee," 
"political contribution," and "political expenditure" have the 
meanings assigned by Section 251.001, Election Code.
	(b)  A school district employee may not have money deducted 
from the employee's salary and transferred to an association if:
		(1)  any portion of the deduction constitutes a 
political contribution to the association;
		(2)  the association will use any portion of the 
deduction to make a political expenditure; or
		(3)  the association will transfer any portion of the 
deduction to a political committee.
	(c)  An association commits an offense if the association:              
		(1)  intentionally represents that a deduction from a 
school employee's salary will not be used in violation of  
Subsection (b); and
		(2)  knowingly uses any portion of a deduction from a 
school employee's salary in violation of Subsection (b).
	(d)  An association that commits conduct described by 
Subsection (c) is liable for a civil penalty in an amount not to 
exceed $10,000 for each school district employee as to whom a salary 
deduction is made.
	(e)  A school district officer or employee commits an offense 
if the officer or employee with criminal negligence authorizes a 
salary deduction prohibited by Subsection (b).
	(f)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.              
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.