BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3923

By: Pena

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, the Texas Ethics Commission is required to send all notices regarding the filing of a sworn complaint by registered or certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested.  With the increasing cost of postage, this requirement has become costly for the commission. 

H.B. 3923 authorizes the commission to send all notifications subsequent to the initial notification regarding the filing of a sworn complaint by regular mail unless the person has notified the commission to send all notices by the same method as the initial notice. 

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

H.B. 3923 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Ethics Commission, after its required initial written notice regarding the filing of a sworn complaint has been sent to a person by registered or certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested, to send any additional notices regarding the complaint by regular mail unless the person has notified the commission to send all notices by registered or certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.