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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the date on which certain reports of political |
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contributions and expenditures must be received by the appropriate |
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authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 254.064(b) through (e), Election Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The first report must be received by the authority with |
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whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not later than the |
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30th day before election day. The report covers the period |
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beginning the day the candidate's campaign treasurer appointment is |
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filed or the first day after the period covered by the last report |
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required to be filed under this chapter, as applicable, and |
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continuing through the 40th day before election day. |
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(c) The second report must be received by the authority with |
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whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not later than the |
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eighth day before election day. The report covers the period |
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beginning the 39th day before election day and continuing through |
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the 10th day before election day. |
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(d) If a person becomes an opposed candidate after a |
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reporting period prescribed by Subsection (b) or (c), [the person
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shall file] the person's first report must be received by the |
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authority with whom the report is required to be filed not later |
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than the regular deadline for the report covering the period during |
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which the person becomes an opposed candidate. The period covered |
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by the first report begins the day the candidate's campaign |
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treasurer appointment is filed. |
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(e) In addition to other required reports, an opposed |
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candidate in a runoff election shall file one report for that |
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election. The runoff election report must be received by the |
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authority with whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not |
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later than the eighth day before runoff election day. The report |
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covers the period beginning the ninth day before the date of the |
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main election and continuing through the 10th day before runoff |
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election day. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 254.124(b) through (e), Election Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The first report must be received by the authority with |
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whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not later than the |
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30th day before election day. The report covers the period |
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beginning the day the committee's campaign treasurer appointment is |
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filed or the first day after the period covered by the committee's |
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last required report, as applicable, and continuing through the |
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40th day before election day. |
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(c) The second report must be received by the authority with |
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whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not later than the |
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eighth day before election day. The report covers the period |
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beginning the 39th day before election day and continuing through |
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the 10th day before election day. |
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(d) If a specific-purpose committee supports or opposes a |
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candidate or measure in an election after a reporting period |
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prescribed by Subsection (b) or (c), [the committee's campaign
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treasurer shall file] the first report must be received by the |
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authority with whom the report is required to be filed not later |
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than the regular deadline for the report covering the period during |
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which the committee becomes involved in the election. The period |
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covered by the first report begins the day the committee's campaign |
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treasurer appointment is filed or the first day after the period |
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covered by the committee's last required report, as applicable. |
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(e) In addition to other required reports, the campaign |
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treasurer of a specific-purpose committee that supports or opposes |
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a candidate in an election and an ensuing runoff election shall file |
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one report for the runoff election. The runoff election report must |
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be received by the authority with whom the report is required to |
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[shall] be filed not later than the eighth day before runoff |
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election day. The report covers the period beginning the ninth day |
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before the date of the main election and continuing through the 10th |
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day before runoff election day. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 254.154(b) through (e), Election Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The first report must be received by the authority with |
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whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not later than the |
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30th day before election day. The report covers the period |
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beginning the day the committee's campaign treasurer appointment is |
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filed or the first day after the period covered by the committee's |
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last required report, as applicable, and continuing through the |
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40th day before election day. |
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(c) The second report must be received by the authority with |
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whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not later than the |
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eighth day before election day. The report covers the period |
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beginning the 39th day before election day and continuing through |
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the 10th day before election day. |
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(d) If a general-purpose committee becomes involved in an |
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election after a reporting period prescribed by Subsection (b) or |
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(c), [the committee's campaign treasurer shall file] the first |
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report must be received by the authority with whom the report is |
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required to be filed not later than the regular deadline for the |
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report covering the period during which the committee becomes |
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involved in the election. The period covered by the first report |
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begins the day the committee's campaign treasurer appointment is |
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filed or the first day after the period covered by the committee's |
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last required report, as applicable. |
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(e) In addition to other required reports, the campaign |
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treasurer of a general-purpose committee involved in an election |
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and an ensuing runoff election shall file one report for the runoff |
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election. The runoff election report must be received by the |
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authority with whom the report is required to [shall] be filed not |
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earlier than the 10th day or later than the eighth day before runoff |
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election day. The report covers the period beginning the ninth day |
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before the date of the main election and continuing through the 10th |
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day before runoff election day. |
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SECTION 4. Section 254.157(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee |
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filing monthly reports shall file a report not later than the fifth |
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day of the month following the period covered by the report. A |
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report covering the month preceding an election in which the |
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committee is involved must be received by the authority with whom |
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the report is required to be filed not later than the fifth day of |
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the month following the period covered by the report. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a report of political contributions and expenditures that is |
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required to be filed on or after September 1, 2007. A report that is |
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required to be filed before that date is governed by the law in |
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effect when the report was filed, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |