78R6186 ATP-D


By:  Madden                                                       H.B. No. 1602



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the availability on the Internet of electronic reports 
of political contributions and expenditures.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 254.0401, Election Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as 
follows:
	(b)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the 
commission shall [may not] make a report filed with the commission 
under Section 254.036(b) for a reporting deadline by any candidate 
for a particular office or by a specific-purpose committee for 
supporting or opposing only one candidate for a particular office 
available to the public on the Internet if [until] each candidate 
for that office that is nominated by or seeking the nomination of a 
political party required to nominate candidates by primary 
election, and each specific-purpose committee for supporting or 
opposing only one candidate for that office that is nominated by or 
seeking the nomination of a political party required to nominate 
candidates by primary election, other than a candidate or committee 
to which Section 254.036(c) or (d) applies, has filed a report for 
that reporting deadline.  Regardless of whether each candidate for 
a particular office that is nominated by or seeking the nomination 
of a political party required to nominate candidates by primary 
election, and each specific-purpose committee for supporting or 
opposing only one candidate for that office that is nominated by or 
seeking the nomination of a political party required to nominate 
candidates by primary election, has filed a report for a filing 
deadline, the commission shall make each report in connection with 
that office available on the Internet and by any other electronic 
means on:
		(1)  the 21st day after the date of the filing deadline, 
for a report other than a report required to be filed under Section 
254.064(c); or
		(2)  the fourth day after the date of the filing 
deadline, for a report required to be filed under Section 
254.064(c).
	(f)  The commission shall clearly state on the Internet 
website on which reports are provided under Subsection (b) that 
reports filed by an independent candidate, a third-party candidate, 
or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing an 
independent or third-party candidate will not be available if the 
candidate or committee has not yet filed a report.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           
	SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act to Section 
254.0401, Election Code, applies only to the posting of a report of 
political contributions and expenditures that is required to be 
filed with the Texas Ethics Commission on or after January 1, 2004.