79R4832 ATP-D

By:  Hilderbran                                                   H.B. No. 3167



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the reporting of political contributions and 
expenditures by certain political committees.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 254, Election Code, is 
amended by adding Section 254.1531 to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.1531.  ANNUAL REPORTING FOR CERTAIN COMMITTEES.  
(a)  The campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee may file 
an annual report under this section if the committee does not intend 
to accept political contributions in a calendar year that in the 
aggregate exceed $10,000 or to make political expenditures in a 
calendar year that in the aggregate exceed $10,000.
	(b)  To be entitled to file reports under this section, the 
campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee must file with 
the commission a written declaration of intent not to exceed 
$10,000 in political contributions or political expenditures in a 
calendar year.  The declaration of intent must contain a statement 
that the committee understands that if the $10,000 maximum for 
contributions and expenditures is exceeded, the committee is 
required to file reports under Sections 254.153 and 254.154.
	(c)  A report filed under this section shall be filed not 
later than January 15.  The report covers the period beginning 
January 1 of the preceding calendar year, the day the committee's 
campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first day after the 
period covered by the last report required to be filed under this 
subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through December 31.
	(d)  If the committee exceeds $10,000 in political 
contributions or political expenditures before June 30, the 
committee shall file semiannual reports as required by Section 
254.153.
	(e)  If the committee exceeds $10,000 in political 
contributions or political expenditures after June 30, the 
committee shall file a report not later than the later of July 15 or 
48 hours after the maximum is exceeded.  A report filed under this 
subsection covers the period beginning the first day of the 
reporting period, as determined under Subsection (c), and 
continuing through the day the maximum is exceeded.  The reporting 
period for the next report filed by the committee begins on the day 
after the last day of the period covered by the report filed under 
this subsection.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.