BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 2195

                                                                                                                                          By: McCall

                                                                                                                                             Elections

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Under current law, reports filed electronically are due to the Texas Ethics Commission by 5:00 p.m. Since the close of business is at 5:00 p.m., it is highly unlikely that staff will look at the reports until the next morning at the earliest.

 

C.S.H.B. 2195 changes the deadline for submitting electronic reports to the Ethics Commission from 5:00 pm to midnight.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Ethics Commission in SECTION 5 of this bill. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 2195 amends the Election Code by moving the deadline for filing electronic reports from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.

 

This bill specifically allows special reports near an election and certain reports in an election for Speaker of the House to be filed by midnight when filed electronically.

 

This bill extends the deadline for filing lobby registrations and reports electronically from 5 p.m. to midnight.

 

C.S.H.B 2195 requires the commission to establish the midnight deadline by rule.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The committee substitute changes Section 2 of the bill to specify that only reports filed electronically are due by midnight. Reports filed by telegram, telephonic facsimile machine, or hand are still due to the Commission by 5:00 p.m..