BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3843

By: Hilderbran

Elections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Candidates for speaker of the house of representatives are running for an office within the membership of the house, rather than a statewide office.

C.S.H.B. 3843 requires the election of the speaker of the house to be governed by the rules of the house of representatives.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3843 amends the Government Code to require the election of the speaker of the house of representatives to be governed by the rules of the house of representatives.

C.S.H.B. 3843 removes provisions relating to the election of the speaker of the house from the laws the Texas Ethics Commission is required to administer and enforce and about which the commission is required to prepare a written opinion in response to a request relating to the application of such laws. 

C.S.H.B. 3843 repeals Subchapter B, Chapter 302, Government Code, relating to campaign finance of a candidate for speaker. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3843 differs from the original by repealing Subchapter B, Chapter 302, Government Code, relating to campaign finance of a candidate for speaker, whereas the original repeals certain sections and provisions of Subchapter B.  The substitute omits provisions included in the original relating to a speaker candidate's declaration of speaker candidacy; a candidate's filing of a statement of campaign expenditures with the chief clerk of the house and the contents of such statement; the transference of certain requirements relating to the filing of such statement to the chief clerk from the Texas Ethics Commission; the requisites of filing the statement; the prohibition against a person making, and a candidate for speaker accepting, campaign contributions and loans; the funds a candidate for speaker may expend and the authorized uses of those funds; certain persons' authorization to make an expenditure to aid or defeat the election of a speaker candidate; expenditures from political contributions; unexpended campaign funds; and offenses and penalties.

C.S.H.B. 3843 omits certain administrative provisions and clauses included in the original and adds a standard savings clause not included in the original.