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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the treatment of professional services for purposes of |
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restricting the use of political contributions or reporting |
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political contributions and expenditures; providing a criminal |
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penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 253.041(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A candidate or officeholder or a specific-purpose |
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committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting the candidate or |
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officeholder may not knowingly make or authorize a payment from a |
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political contribution if the payment is made for personal or |
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professional services rendered by the candidate or officeholder or |
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by the spouse or dependent child of the candidate or officeholder |
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to: |
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(1) a business in which the candidate or officeholder |
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has a participating interest of more than 10 percent, holds a |
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position on the governing body of the business, or serves as an |
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officer of the business; or |
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(2) the candidate or officeholder or the spouse or |
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dependent child of the candidate or officeholder. |
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SECTION 2. Section 254.033, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.033. NONREPORTABLE PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL |
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SERVICE. A political contribution consisting of an individual's |
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personal or professional service is not required to be reported |
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under this chapter if the individual receives no compensation for |
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the service. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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254.033, Election Code, applies to a report of political |
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contributions and expenditures required to be filed under Chapter |
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254, Election Code, on or after the effective date of this Act, |
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regardless of when the professional service was provided. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |