Amend CSSB 12 as follows by adding appropriately numbered 
SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent sequent SECTIONS 
accordingly:
	SECTION __.  Section 254.036, Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 254.036.  FORM OF REPORT;  AFFIDAVIT;  MAILING OF FORMS.  
(a)  Each report filed under this chapter with an authority other 
than the commission must be on a form prescribed by the commission 
and must be written in black ink or typed with black typewriter 
ribbon unless the report is a computer printout.  If the report is a 
computer printout, the printout must conform to the same format and 
paper size as the form prescribed by the commission.
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c) or (d) [, (e), or 
(f)], each report filed under this chapter with the commission must 
be filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic 
transfer, using computer software provided by the commission or 
computer software that meets commission specifications for a 
standard file format.
	(c)  [A candidate, officeholder, or political committee that 
is required to file reports with the commission may file reports 
that comply with Subsection (a) if:
		[(1)  the candidate, officeholder, or campaign 
treasurer of the committee files with the commission an affidavit 
stating that the candidate, officeholder, or committee, an agent of 
the candidate, officeholder, or committee, or a person with whom 
the candidate, officeholder, or committee contracts does not use 
computer equipment to keep the current records of political 
contributions, political expenditures, or persons making political 
contributions to the candidate, officeholder, or committee;  and
		[(2)  the candidate, officeholder, or committee does 
not, in a calendar year, accept political contributions that in the 
aggregate exceed $20,000 or make political expenditures that in the 
aggregate exceed $20,000.
	[(c-1)  An affidavit under Subsection (c) must be filed with 
each report filed under Subsection (a).  The affidavit must include 
a statement that the candidate, officeholder, or political 
committee understands that the candidate, officeholder, or 
committee shall file reports as required by Subsection (b) if:
		[(1)  the candidate, officeholder, or committee, a 
consultant of the candidate, officeholder, or committee, or a 
person with whom the candidate, officeholder, or committee 
contracts uses computer equipment for a purpose described by 
Subsection (c);  or
		[(2)  the candidate, officeholder, or committee 
exceeds $20,000 in political contributions or political 
expenditures in a calendar year.]
	[(e)]  A candidate for an office described by Section 
252.005(5) or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or 
opposing only candidates for an office described by Section 
252.005(5) or a measure described by Section 252.007(5) may file 
reports that comply with Subsection (a).
	(d)  [(f)]  An individual required to file a report with the 
commission in connection with a direct campaign expenditure to 
which Section 253.062 applies may file a report that complies with 
Subsection (a).
	(e)  [(h)]  Each report filed under this chapter that is not 
filed by electronic transfer must be accompanied by an affidavit 
executed by the person required to file the report.  The affidavit 
must contain the statement:  "I swear, or affirm, under penalty of 
perjury, that the accompanying report is true and correct and 
includes all information required to be reported by me under Title 
15, Election Code."  Each report filed under this chapter by 
electronic transfer must be under oath by the person required to 
file the report and must contain, in compliance with commission 
specifications, the digitized signature of the person required to 
file the report.  A report filed under this chapter is considered to 
be under oath by the person required to file the report, and the 
person is subject to prosecution under Chapter 37, Penal Code, 
regardless of the absence of or a defect in the affidavit.
	(f) [(i)]  Each person required to file reports with the 
commission that comply with Subsection (b) shall file with the 
commission a written statement providing the manner of electronic 
transfer that the person will use to file the report.  A statement 
under this subsection must be filed not later than the 30th day 
before the filing deadline for the first report a person is required 
to file under Subsection (b).  A person who intends to change the 
manner of filing described by the person's most recent statement 
shall notify the commission of the change not later than the 30th 
day before the filing deadline for the report to which the change 
applies.  If a person does not file a statement under this 
subsection, the commission may accept as authentic a report filed 
in any manner that complies with Subsection (b).  If the commission 
receives a report that is not filed in the manner described by the 
person's most recent statement under this subsection, the 
commission shall promptly notify the person in writing that the 
commission has received a report filed in a different manner than 
expected.
	(g)  [(j)]  As part of the notification required by Section 
251.033, the commission shall mail the appropriate forms to each 
person required to file a report with the commission during that 
reporting period.
	(h)  [(k)]  The commission shall prescribe forms for purposes 
of legislative caucus reports under Section 254.0311 that are 
separate and distinct from forms for other reports under this 
chapter.
	(i)  [(l)]  This section applies to a report that is filed 
electronically or otherwise.
	SECTION __.  Section 572.030, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 572.030.  Preparation and Mailing of Forms; Electronic 
Filing.  (a)  The commission shall design forms that may be used for 
filing the financial statement under this subchapter.  The 
commission shall also accept submission of the financial statement 
required under this subchapter by electronic transfer.

	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), the [The] 
commission shall mail two copies of the financial statement form to 
each individual required to file under this subchapter.
	(c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), the [The] copies 
must be mailed:
		(1)  before the 30th day before the deadline for filing 
the financial statement under Section 572.026(a) or (c), except as 
otherwise provided by this subsection;
		(2)  not later than the 15th day after the applicable 
deadline for filing an application for a place on the ballot or a 
declaration of write-in candidacy for candidates required to file 
under Section 572.027(a), (b), or (c);
		(3)  not later than the seventh day after the date of 
appointment for individuals required to file under Section 
572.026(b), or if the legislature is in session, sooner if 
possible; and
		(4)  not later than the fifth day after the date the 
certificate of nomination is filed for candidates required to file 
under Section 574.027(d).
	(d)  Individuals required to file a financial statement 
under this subchapter, may file by computer diskette, modem, or 
other means of electronic transfer, using computer software that 
meets commission specifications for a standard file format.  Each 
report filed under this subsection must be under oath by the person 
required to file the report and must contain, in compliance with 
commission specifications, the digitized signature of the person 
required to file the report.  A report filed by electronic transfer 
under this subsection is considered to be under oath by the person 
required to file the report, and the person is subject to 
prosecution under Chapter 37, Penal Code.  Each person who files a 
report under this subsection shall file with the commission a 
written statement providing the manner of electronic transfer that 
the person will use to file the report.  The statement must be filed 
not later than the 30th day before the filing deadline for the first 
report a person opts to file under this subsection.  A person who 
intends to change the manner of filing described by the person's 
most recent statement shall notify the commission of the change not 
later than the 30th day before the filing deadline for the report to 
which the change applies.  If a person does not file a statement 
under this subsection, the commission may accept as authentic a 
report filed in any manner that complies with commission 
specifications.  If the commission receives a report that is not 
filed in the manner described by the person's most recent statement 
under this subsection, the commission shall promptly notify the 
person in writing that the commission has received a report filed in 
a different manner than expected.
	SECTION __.  Section 572.032, Government Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (b) to read as follows:
	(b)  The commission shall provide electronic access to the 
statements on the commission's website [During the one-year period 
following the filing of a financial statement, each time a person 
requests to see the financial statement, excluding the commission 
or a commission employee acting on official business, the 
commission shall place in the file a statement of the person's name 
and address, whom the person represents, and the date of the 
request.  The commission shall retain that statement in the file for 
one year after the date the requested financial statement is 
filed].

	SECTION __.  Section 572.034, Government Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  In a prosecution for failure to file a financial 
statement under this section, it is a defense that the individual 
did not receive copies of the financial statement form required by 
this subchapter to be mailed to the individual.  This subsection is 
inapplicable to a prosecution for failure to file a financial 
statement under this section if the person required to file opts to 
file by electronic transfer as  provided in Section 572.030(d).
	SECTION __.  (a)  Section 254.036, Election Code, as amended 
by this Act, applies only to a report required to be filed under 
Chapter 254, Election Code, on or after September 1, 2005.  A report 
required to be filed under Chapter 254, Election Code, before 
September 1, 2005, is governed by the law in effect on the date the 
report was required to be filed, and the former law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.
	(b)  Sections 572.030 and 572.034, as amended by this Act, 
apply only to a report required to be filed under Subchapter B, 
Chapter 572, Election Code, on or after September 1, 2005.  A report 
required to be filed under Subchapter B, Chapter 572, Election 
Code, before September 1, 2005, is governed by the law in effect on 
the date the report was required to be filed, and the former law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION ___.  Section 305.027, Government Code, is amended by 
adding new Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  This section does not apply to either house of the 
legislature, a member of the legislature, the governor, or the 
lieutenant governor.