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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of a campaign treasurer and filing of |
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reports of political contributions and expenditures by certain |
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candidates. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 253.031, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Subsection (a) does not apply to a candidate who files |
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a declaration of intent under Section 254.182 unless the candidate |
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exceeds the maximum amount of political contributions or political |
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expenditures prescribed by Section 254.181. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter G, Chapter 254, |
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Election Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. EXEMPTION FROM REPORTING OR MODIFIED REPORTING |
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PROCEDURES; $500 MAXIMUM IN CONTRIBUTIONS OR EXPENDITURES |
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SECTION 3. Sections 254.181 and 254.182, Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.181. EXEMPTION FROM REPORTING OR MODIFIED |
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REPORTING AUTHORIZED. (a) A candidate required to file reports |
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under Subchapter C, including a candidate who has an opponent whose |
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name will appear on the ballot, is exempt from filing reports under |
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this chapter if the candidate does not intend to accept political |
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contributions that in the aggregate exceed $500 or to make |
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political expenditures that in the aggregate exceed $500 in |
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connection with the election. |
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(b) A [An opposed candidate or] specific-purpose committee |
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required to file reports under Subchapter [C or] E may file a report |
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under this subchapter instead if the [candidate or] committee does |
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not intend to accept political contributions that in the aggregate |
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exceed $500 or to make political expenditures that in the aggregate |
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exceed $500 in connection with the election. |
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(c) [(b)] The amount of a filing fee paid by a candidate is |
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excluded from the $500 maximum expenditure permitted under |
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Subsection (a) [this section]. |
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Sec. 254.182. DECLARATION OF INTENT REQUIRED. (a) To be |
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exempt from filing reports under this chapter, a candidate must |
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file a written declaration of intent not to exceed $500 in political |
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contributions or political expenditures in the election. |
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(b) A candidate who files a campaign treasurer appointment |
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must file the declaration of intent with the candidate's campaign |
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treasurer appointment. A candidate who does not file a campaign |
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treasurer appointment must file the declaration of intent with the |
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authority with whom the candidate would otherwise file a campaign |
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treasurer appointment. |
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(c) To be entitled to file reports under this subchapter, a |
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[an opposed candidate or] specific-purpose committee must file with |
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the campaign treasurer appointment a written declaration of intent |
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not to exceed $500 in political contributions or political |
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expenditures in the election. |
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(d) [(b)] The declaration of intent must contain a |
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statement that the candidate or committee understands that if the |
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$500 maximum for contributions and expenditures is exceeded: |
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(1) the candidate is required to file a campaign |
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treasurer appointment, if the candidate has not previously done so; |
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and |
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(2) the candidate or committee is required to file |
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reports under Subchapter C or E, as applicable. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 254.183(a) and (c), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A [An opposed] candidate or specific-purpose committee |
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that exceeds $500 in political contributions or political |
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expenditures in the election shall file reports as required by |
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Subchapter C or E, as applicable. |
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(c) A report filed under Subsection (b) covers the period: |
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(1) beginning on: |
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(A) for a candidate who did not previously file a |
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campaign treasurer appointment, the day the first political |
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contribution is accepted or the first political expenditure is |
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made; or |
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(B) for a candidate who previously filed a |
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campaign treasurer appointment or for a specific-purpose |
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committee, the day the candidate's or committee's campaign |
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treasurer appointment is filed; and |
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(2) continuing through the day the maximum is |
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exceeded. |
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SECTION 5. Section 254.184, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.184. APPLICABILITY OF REGULAR REPORTING |
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REQUIREMENTS. (a) Subchapter [C or] E [, as applicable,] applies |
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to a [an opposed candidate or] specific-purpose committee filing |
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under this subchapter to the extent that that [the appropriate] |
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subchapter does not conflict with this subchapter. |
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(b) A specific-purpose [candidate or] committee filing |
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under this subchapter is not required to file any reports of |
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political contributions and political expenditures other than the |
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semiannual reports required to be filed not later than July 15 and |
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January 15. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |