BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1808

81R9220 CAE-D                                                                                                            By: Zaffirini

State Affairs

4/15/2009

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) representatives have indicated that providing notice of filing deadlines through electronic mail could save TEC a few thousand dollars in mailing costs, freeing up funds that could be better utilized for other purposes.  As mail costs rise in the future, there will be a concomitant increase in the value of this legislative change in relation to TEC's budget.

As proposed, S.B. 1808 authorizes TEC to provide notice of filing deadlines through the medium of electronic mail to individuals required to file campaign finance reports under Title 15 (Regulating Political Funds and Campaigns), Election Code.

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 251.033, Election Code, as follows:

Sec. 251.033.  NOTIFICATION OF DEADLINE FOR FILING REPORTS.  (a)  Authorizes notification under this subsection to be sent by electronic mail.

(b)  Provides that if the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) is unable to notify a person of a deadline after two attempts, TEC is not required to make any further attempts to notify the person of that deadline or any future deadlines until the person has notified TEC of the person's current address or electronic mail address.

(c)  Provides that Chapter 552 (Public Information), Government Code, does not apply to a notification under this section sent by electronic mail.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.