81R5633 ESH-F
 
  By: Bohac H.B. No. 1720
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of public funds by a political subdivision for
  communications that contain false information relating to a ballot
  measure; providing a criminal penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 255.003, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Subsection (a) [This section] does not apply to a
  communication that factually describes the purposes of a measure if
  the communication does not advocate passage or defeat of the
  measure.
         (b-1)  An officer or employee of a political subdivision may
  not spend or authorize the spending of public funds for a
  communication describing a measure if the communication contains
  material information that the officer or employee knows is false.
         (c)  A person who violates Subsection (a) or (b-1) [this
  section] commits an offense. An offense under this section is a
  Class A misdemeanor.
         SECTION 2.  Section 255.003, Election Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an expenditure of public funds that is
  made on or after September 1, 2009. An expenditure of public funds
  that is made before September 1, 2009, is governed by the law in
  effect on the date the expenditure is made, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.