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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain political activities by a labor organization or |
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an affiliate of a labor organization that receives state funds; |
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providing a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 253.101, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A political committee assisted by a labor organization |
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under Section 253.100 or directly administered or controlled by a |
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labor organization may not make a political contribution to a |
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candidate for an office in the legislative or executive branch or |
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otherwise support the candidacy of such a person if the labor |
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organization or any entity controlled by the labor organization |
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receives state funds. |
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SECTION 2. Section 556.001, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Labor organization" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 251.001, Election Code. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 556, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 556.0041 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 556.0041. SUPPORT OF CANDIDATE BY CERTAIN LABOR |
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ORGANIZATIONS PROHIBITED. (a) A labor organization that receives |
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state funds or an entity controlled by such a labor organization may |
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not use any money under its control, including appropriated money, |
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to finance or support the candidacy of a person for an office in the |
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legislative or executive branch. |
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(b) A labor organization that violates this section is not |
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eligible to receive additional state funds. |
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SECTION 4. Section 556.0055, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) A labor organization that receives state funds or an |
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entity controlled by such a labor organization may not use any money |
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under its control, including appropriated money, to attempt to |
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influence the passage or defeat of a legislative measure. |
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(b) A political subdivision or private entity that violates |
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this section [Subsection (a)] is not eligible to receive additional |
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state funds. |
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SECTION 5. Section 253.101, Election Code, as amended by |
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this Act, Section 556.0041, Government Code, as added by this Act, |
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and Section 556.0055, Government Code, as amended by this Act, |
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apply only to an expenditure of funds by a labor organization or an |
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entity controlled by a labor organization that is made on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. An expenditure of funds by a labor |
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organization or an entity controlled by a labor organization that |
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is made before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect on the date the expenditure is made, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |