By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 1778
	(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2005; March 30, 2005, read 
first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; 
April 19, 2005, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 
Substitute to Committee on Education; April 25, 2005, reported 
adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute from Committee on 
Education by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 25, 2005, 
sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1778                                   By:  Staples

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reporting of personal financial information by trustees of certain junior college districts and to candidates for office of certain political subdivisions; providing civil and criminal penalties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 130.0831 to read as follows: Sec. 130.0831. FILING OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT BY TRUSTEE. (a) This section applies only to a junior college district that: (1) has an enrollment of more than 33,000 students; and (2) has fewer than six campuses. (b) A member of the board of trustees of a junior college district shall file the financial statement required of state officers under Subchapter B, Chapter 572, Government Code, with: (1) the board of trustees of the junior college district; and (2) the Texas Ethics Commission. (c) Subchapter B, Chapter 572, Government Code: (1) applies to a trustee of a junior college district as if the trustee were a state officer; and (2) governs the contents, timeliness of filing, and public inspection of a statement filed under this section. (d) A trustee subject to this section commits an offense if the trustee fails to file the statement required by this section. An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. SECTION 2. Chapter 144, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 144.0021 to read as follows: Sec. 144.0021. CANDIDACY FOR OTHER OFFICE. If an elected officer subject to this chapter becomes a candidate, by announcing an intention to be a candidate or by filing an application for a place on the ballot, for any elected office other than an office covered by this chapter, the announcement or candidacy constitutes an automatic resignation of the office held, and the vacancy created shall be filled as provided by applicable law. SECTION 3. Section 253.004, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a-1) Funds collected or held by a political committee established in connection with a candidacy for an elected office covered by Chapter 144 may not be expended for any other purpose. This subsection does not apply to a charitable contribution. SECTION 4. Section 130.0831, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning January 1, 2007. A trustee subject to Section 130.0831, Education Code, as added by this Act, is not required to include financial activity occurring before January 1, 2006, in a financial disclosure statement required under Section 130.0831, Education Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
* * * * *