BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 695
81R2524 ESH-D By: Ellis
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law does not contain any language regarding the Internet posting of financial records. It only pertains to paper copies and the Texas Ethics Commission's (TEC) responsibility to remove personal information from copies that are shown or given to a member of the public.
This bill allows for more transparency and easier disclosure of financial records to members of the public by posting financial records online and grouping them by office held or sought, and by all records for each candidate or office holder.
As proposed, S.B. 695 requires TEC to post on its website, within 10 business days, the personal financial statements of candidates for and holders of state office and state chairs of political parties.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 572.032, Government Code, by amending Subsections (a), (a-1), and (c) and adding Subsection (a-2), as follows:
(a) Creates Subdivision (1) from existing text. Requires the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC), not later than the 10th business day after the date a statement is filed, to post the statement on TEC's Internet website.
(a-1) Requires TEC to remove the home address of a judge or justice from a financial statement filed under this subchapter before posting the statement on TEC's Internet website. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(a-2) Requires TEC, in posting financial statements on TEC's Internet website, to the extent practicable, to arrange the statements in a manner that groups together the statements filed by individuals holding or seeking the same type of office and groups together all statements filed by an individual that appear on the website.
(c) Creates Subdivision (1) from existing text. Authorizes TEC and requires TEC on notification from the state officer, after the second anniversary of the date the individual ceases to be a state officer, to remove each financial statement filed by the state officer from TEC's Internet website.
SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 572.032(b) (relating to a request for public access to financial statements), Government Code.
SECTION 3. Provides that Section 572.032 (Public Access to Statements), Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a financial statement filed under Subchapter B (Personal Financial Statement), Chapter 572, Government Code, that is due on or after September 1, 2009.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2009.