By:  Hochberg (Senate Sponsor - Duncan)                           H.B. No. 350
	(In the Senate - Received from the House March 29, 2005; 
March 30, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on State 
Affairs; May 6, 2005, reported favorably by the following vote:  
Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 6, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the filing of certain reports of political 
contributions and expenditures.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 254.038, Election Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.038.  SPECIAL [TELEGRAM] REPORT NEAR ELECTION BY 
CERTAIN CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL COMMITTEES.
	SECTION 2.  Sections 254.038(c) and (d), Election Code, are 
amended to read as follows:
	(c)  A report under this section shall be filed 
electronically, by telegram or telephonic facsimile machine, or by 
hand, in the form required by Section 254.036.  The [with the] 
commission must receive the report not later than 5 p.m. of the 
first business day after the date the contribution is accepted.  A 
report under this section is not required to be accompanied by the 
affidavit required under Section 254.036(h) or to be submitted on a 
form prescribed by the commission.  A report under this section that 
complies with Section 254.036(a) must be accompanied by an 
affidavit under Section 254.036(c)(1) unless the candidate or 
committee has submitted an affidavit under Section 254.036(c)(1) 
with another report filed in connection with the election for which 
a report is required under this section.
	(d)  To the extent of a conflict between this section and 
Section 254.036, this section controls [does not apply to a report 
required by this section].
	SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 254.039, Election Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.039.  SPECIAL [TELEGRAM] REPORT NEAR ELECTION BY 
CERTAIN GENERAL-PURPOSE COMMITTEES.
	SECTION 4.  Sections 254.039(a) and (c), Election Code, are 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  In addition to other reports required by this chapter, a 
general-purpose committee that makes direct campaign expenditures 
supporting or opposing either a single candidate that in the 
aggregate exceed $1,000 or a group of candidates that in the 
aggregate exceed $15,000 during the period beginning the ninth day 
before election day and ending at 12 noon on the second day before 
election day shall file a report electronically, by telegram or 
telephonic facsimile machine, or by hand, in the form required by 
Section 254.036.  The [with the] commission must receive the report
not later than 48 hours after the expenditure is made.  A report 
under this section is not required to be accompanied by the 
affidavit required under Section 254.036(h) or to be submitted on a 
form prescribed by the commission.  A report under this section that 
complies with Section 254.036(a) must be accompanied by an 
affidavit under Section 254.036(c)(1) unless the committee has 
submitted an affidavit under Section 254.036(c)(1) with another 
report filed in connection with the election for which a report is 
required under this section.
	(c)  To the extent of a conflict between this section and 
Section 254.036, this section controls [does not apply to a report 
required by this section].
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect October 1, 2005.                             



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