78R7707 ESH-D

By:  Farabee                                                      H.B. No. 2194



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the name of political committees for supporting a 
candidate or assisting an officeholder.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Section 252.0031, Election Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the name of a 
specific-purpose committee for supporting a candidate or assisting 
an officeholder may not include the name of the candidate or 
officeholder the committee supports or assists unless the candidate 
or officeholder in writing authorizes the committee to include the 
candidate's or officeholder's name.  The authorization must be 
filed with the committee's campaign treasurer appointment.
	SECTION 2.   Not later than October 1, 2003, each 
specific-purpose committee for supporting a candidate or assisting 
an officeholder whose name includes the name of the candidate or 
officeholder shall file with the authority with whom the 
committee's campaign treasurer appointment is required to be filed:
		(1)  a written authorization from the candidate or 
officeholder for the use of the candidate's or officeholder's name, 
as required by Section 252.0031(c), Election Code, as added by this 
Act; or
		(2)  an amended campaign treasurer appointment 
indicating a new name for the committee that does not include the 
name of the candidate or officeholder.
	SECTION 3.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.