By:  Harris                                                       S.B. No. 1277


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to political expenditures made by a corporation to finance 
the establishment and administration of a political committee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 253.100, Election Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as 
follows:
	(a)  A corporation, acting alone or with one or more other 
corporations, may make one or more political expenditures to 
finance the establishment or administration of a general-purpose 
committee.  In addition to any other expenditure that is considered 
to be permissible under this section, the category of permissible 
expenditures specifically includes an expenditure:
		(1)  for the maintenance and operation of a 
general-purpose committee, such as:
			(A)  rent;                                                            
			(B)  office equipment;                                                
			(C)  utilities; or                                                    
			(D)  secretarial or clerical assistance and 
professional services necessary for the proper administrative 
operation of the committee; and
		(2)  to support the regular functions of the committee, 
including meetings of the committee to make decisions relating to 
the committee's support, the recording of committee decisions, the 
communication of committee decisions to contributors to the 
committee, and the preparation and delivery of committee 
contributions.
	(d)  In issuing an advisory opinion under Subchapter D, 
Chapter 571, Government Code, on the question of whether a 
political expenditure is for the establishment or administration of 
a general-purpose committee, the commission may consider relevant 
federal election laws and opinions for guidance.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.