By: Anchia H.B. No. 3146
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to public financing of campaigns for certain judicial
  offices and to limits on political contributions to and direct
  campaign expenditures made on behalf of judicial candidates, and
  officeholders, in connection with certain judicial offices;
  providing civil penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 15, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 259 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 259.  PUBLIC FINANCING OF CAMPAIGNS FOR
  CERTAIN JUDICIAL OFFICES
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 259.001.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  This chapter
  applies only to:
               (1)  a member of the judiciary at the appellate court
  level, State Court of Criminal Appeals and State Supreme Court;
         Sec. 259.002.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
               (1)  "Election cycle" means:
                     (A)  the general primary election, runoff primary
  election, if any, and general election for state and county
  officers; or
                     (B)  a special election and runoff election, if
  any.
               (2)  "Fund" means the campaign financing fund
  established under Subchapter C.
         Sec. 259.003.  EFFECT OF ACCEPTING PUBLIC MONEY.  By
  accepting money from the fund, a candidate agrees to not accept
  political contributions not authorized by this chapter.
  SUBCHAPTER B.  ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC FINANCING
         Sec. 259.011. REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY GENERALLY.  To be
  eligible to receive public financing under this chapter, a
  candidate must:
               (1)  receive political contributions in the applicable
  amount and within the applicable period prescribed by Section
  259.017;.
               (2)  file with the commission a petition that satisfies
  the applicable requirements prescribed by:
                     (A)  Subchapter C, Chapter 141; and
                     (B)  Sections 259.013, 259.014, 259.015, and
  259.016.
         Sec. 259.012.  CERTIFICATION OF CANDIDATE AS CONDITIONALLY
  ELIGIBLE.  (a)  Not later than the 15th day after the date an
  application for a place on the ballot is required to be filed, the
  secretary of state shall certify in writing to the commission each
  person who is a candidate for an office covered by this chapter as
  conditionally eligible for public financing.
         (b)  Not later than the fifth day after the date the
  secretary of state certifies a candidate for placement on the list
  of write-in candidates as a candidate for an office covered by this
  chapter, the secretary shall certify the candidate in writing to
  the commission as conditionally eligible for public financing.
         (c)  The secretary of state shall deliver a copy of a
  certification under this section to the affected candidate.
         Sec. 259.013.  CIRCULATION PERIOD FOR PETITION; HEADING AND
  STATEMENT.  (a)  A petition under this subchapter may not be
  circulated before the beginning of the applicable period prescribed
  by Section 259.017(a).
         (b)  Each page of a petition under this subchapter must:
               (1)  be headed "Petition for Public Campaign Financing
  for (Name of Candidate), a Candidate for (Name of Office Sought and
  District Number, if Applicable)."; and
               (2)  contain a statement just ahead of the signatures
  of the petitioners, as follows:  "I know that the purpose of this
  petition is to enable (name of candidate) to receive public
  financing in connection with (his or her) campaign for (name of
  office sought and district number, if applicable)."
         (c)  The circulation of a petition to be filed under this
  subchapter does not constitute candidacy or an announcement of
  candidacy for purposes of the automatic resignation provisions of
  Section 11, Article XI, or Section 65, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution.
         Sec. 259.014.  REQUIRED SIGNATURES FOR PETITION.  (a)  A
  candidate's petition under this subchapter must be signed by:
               (1)  at least 2,500 registered voters, if the candidate
  seeks a statewide judicial office;
               (2)  at least 1,000 registered voters, if the candidate
  seeks the office of appellate court justice;
         (b)  Not more than 20 percent of the required number of
  signers may be residents of:
               (1)  the same county, if the candidate seeks a
  statewide office;
               (2)  the same commissioners court precinct, if the
  candidate seeks a district office filled by voters of more than one
  county; or
               (3)  the same election precinct, if the candidate seeks
  a district office filled by voters of one county.
         (c)  A petition that violates Subsection (b) is not invalid
  if the petition would otherwise be valid if the signatures of
  residents of the same county or precinct, as applicable, in excess
  of the applicable number specified by Subsection (b) were
  disregarded.
         (d)  A person may not sign a petition under this subchapter
  for more than one candidate for the same office.
         Sec. 259.015.  REQUIRED POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM
  PETITION SIGNERS.  (a)  A person who signs a petition under this
  subchapter must, at the time of signing, make a political
  contribution to the candidate in the form of cash or a check of $5.
         (b)  A political contribution accepted under this section is
  counted for purposes of Section 259.017.
         Sec. 259.016.  FILING OF PETITION.  A candidate requesting
  public financing under this chapter must file the petition with the
  commission not later than the applicable deadline for filing an
  application for a place on the ballot or a declaration of write-in
  candidacy.
         Sec. 259.017.  REQUIRED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.  (a)  A
  candidate seeking public financing under this chapter must accept
  and receive at least the amount specified by Subsection (b) in
  political contributions during the period:
               (1)  beginning on the 120th day before the date an
  application for a place on the ballot or a declaration of write-in
  candidacy, as applicable, is required to be filed; and
               (2)  ending on the fifth day before the date an
  application for a place on the ballot or a declaration of write-in
  candidacy, as applicable, is required to be filed.
         (b)  The amount of required campaign contributions is:
               (1)  $12,500, if the candidate seeks a statewide
  judicial office:
               (2)  $5,000, if the candidate seeks the office of
  appellate court justice;
         (c)  Not later than the fifth day after the date the
  commission certifies a candidate as eligible for public financing
  under Section 259.018, a candidate who received more in political
  contributions under this section than the applicable amount under
  Subsection (b) shall deliver to the commission an amount equal to
  the difference between the amount of political contributions
  received and the applicable amount under Subsection (b).  The
  commission shall deliver money received under this subsection to
  the comptroller for deposit in the fund.  A candidate who is not
  certified as eligible for public financing is not required to
  deliver excess political contributions to the commission under this
  subsection.
         (d)  Notwithstanding Section 254.034, a candidate who is
  requesting public financing and who accepts a political
  contribution under this section but who does not receive the
  contribution until after the applicable date prescribed by
  Subsection (a)(2) shall return the contribution to the contributor
  not later than the fifth day after the date the candidate receives
  the contribution.
         Sec. 259.018.  CERTIFICATION OF CANDIDATE AS ELIGIBLE.  (a)
  Not later than the fifth day after the date the commission
  determines a candidate is eligible, the commission shall certify to
  the comptroller as eligible for public financing each candidate
  who:
               (1)  meets the requirements prescribed by Section
  259.011; and
               (2)  is certified to the commission as conditionally
  eligible under Section 259.012.
         (b)  A determination as to whether a candidate meets the
  requirements prescribed by Section 259.017 must be based on reports
  of political contributions and expenditures filed under Chapter
  254.  The commission is not required to make a determination as to
  whether a candidate is eligible until the candidate makes a written
  request for a determination.  The commission shall make a
  determination not later than the 15th day after the later of:
               (1)  the date the commission receives the request for a
  determination; or
               (2)  the date the candidate files a report under
  Chapter 254 covering the period prescribed by Section 259.017.
         (c)  The commission shall deliver a copy of a certification
  under this section to:
               (1)  the affected candidate; and
               (2)  each opponent of the affected candidate.
         Sec. 259.019.  VERIFICATION OF PETITION.  (a)  The
  commission is not required to verify a petition filed under this
  subchapter unless, not later than the 10th day after the date a
  petition is required to be filed under Section 259.016, a person
  alleges to the commission in writing that the petition does not meet
  the requirements prescribed by this chapter.
         (b)  The commission shall verify a petition as promptly as
  possible after receiving an allegation under Subsection (a).
  Pending verification, the commission may not certify the candidate
  to the comptroller as eligible for public financing.
         (c)  On request of the commission, a voter registrar shall
  verify the voter registration status of a signer of a petition filed
  with the commission who the petition indicates is registered or has
  been approved for registration in the county served by the
  registrar.
         (d)  If the commission verifies that the petition meets the
  requirements prescribed by this chapter:
               (1)  the commission shall certify the candidate to the
  comptroller as eligible for public financing; and
               (2)  the comptroller shall distribute to the candidate
  from the fund any money to which the candidate would have been
  entitled if the candidate had been eligible during the period in
  which the verification was pending.
  SUBCHAPTER C. CAMPAIGN FINANCING FUND
         Sec. 259.051.  CAMPAIGN FINANCING FUND.  (a)  The campaign
  financing fund is in the state treasury.
         (b)  The fund consists of:
               (1)  amounts appropriated to the fund;
               (2)  amounts refunded to the fund under Section 259.055
  or 259.056;
               (3)  amounts delivered to the commission under Section
  259.017(e);
               (4)  amounts received by the commission or comptroller
  as a gift or grant to the fund; and
               (5)  civil penalties collected by the commission for a
  violation of this chapter or Subchapter G, Chapter 253.
         (d)  For a person to be eligible to receive public financing,
  the commission must certify to the comptroller that the person is
  eligible as provided by Section 259.018.
         (e)  Money remaining in the fund at the end of an election
  cycle is retained in the fund for the next election cycle.  The
  comptroller shall credit interest on money in the fund to the fund.  
  Money in the fund may be appropriated only for purposes of this
  chapter.
         Sec. 259.052.  FUNDS FOR ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES.  (a)  In
  connection with each general election for state and county
  officers, the commission shall, not later than the 130th day before
  the date an application for a place on the primary election ballot
  is required to be filed, adopt rules prescribing the total amount of
  public financing to which a candidate for an office covered by this
  chapter whose name will appear on the ballot is entitled.  The
  commission shall determine the amount under this subsection based
  on:
               (1)  the allocations prescribed by Subsections (b) and
  (C);
               (2)  the comptroller's certified estimation as to the
  amount that will be available in the fund for the calendar year in
  which the election occurs; and
               (3)  the secretary of state's estimation, based on
  previous elections, of the number of candidates in each office
  covered by this chapter who will be on the primary election ballot
  or the general election ballot for that election.
         (b)  The commission shall prescribe amounts under Subsection
  (a) using the following allocations:
               (1)  25% to candidates for statewide judicial office
               (2)  75% to candidates for appellate court justice
         (c)  The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must specify the
  amount of each monthly distribution from the fund.  The amount of a
  monthly distribution made for January, February, or March must be
  substantially greater than the amount of a monthly distribution
  made for any other month.
         Sec. 259.053.  DISTRIBUTIONS FROM FUND.  (a)  A certified
  candidate is entitled to a distribution from the fund for each month
  that begins or ends during the period:
               (1)  beginning on the date an application for a place on
  the ballot or a declaration of write-in candidacy, as applicable,
  is required to be filed; and
               (2)  except as provided by Subsection (b), ending on
  the 30th day after:
                     (A)  the date an application for a place on the
  ballot is required to be filed, if the candidate will not have an
  opponent in the primary election or general election;
                     (B)  the date of the primary election, if the
  candidate has an opponent in the primary election and:
                           (i)  will not have an opponent in the general
  election; or
                           (ii)  is not a candidate in the runoff
  primary election or the general election;
                     (C)  the date of the runoff primary election, if
  the candidate is a candidate in that election and:
                           (i)  will not have an opponent in the general
  election; or
                           (ii)  is not a candidate in the general
  election; or
               (D)  the date of the general election.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), after a person files
  a declaration of write-in candidacy opposing a certified candidate
  who would otherwise not have an opponent in the general election:
               (1)  the certified candidate is entitled to an amount
  equal to 50 percent of each distribution from the fund scheduled to
  be made after the date the candidate's opponent files the
  declaration of write-in candidacy; and
               (2)  if the write-in candidate is certified as eligible
  under Section 259.018, the write-in candidate is entitled to an
  amount equal to 50 percent of each distribution from the fund
  scheduled to be made after the date the candidate files the
  declaration of write-in candidacy.
         (c)  if on the date an application for a place on the ballot
  is required to be filed or has been certified by the Secretary of
  State, a certified candidate has an opponent in a primary or general
  election who has qualified to file as a non participating
  candidate, and if on before the 35th day prior to the date of a
  primary or general election said non participating candidate
  reports contributions in excess of 50% or more than the qualified
  candidates distribution, the qualified candidate shall be entitled
  to additional distribution of funds at a rate of 1 to 3.
         (d)  The comptroller shall distribute money to certified
  candidates as directed by the commission.  If the amount in the fund
  is insufficient to provide the amounts specified by rules adopted
  under Section 259.052, the comptroller shall determine the amount
  of available money and shall distribute the amount on a pro rata
  basis.
         Sec. 259.054.  RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF MONEY FROM FUND.  (a)
  Money accepted by a candidate from the fund is considered to be a
  campaign contribution to the candidate.  Except as otherwise
  provided by this chapter, the provisions of this title regulating
  the use of political contributions apply to money accepted by a
  candidate from the fund.
         (b)  A candidate may use money accepted from the fund only
  for expenses related to the candidate's campaign for election. A
  candidate may not use money accepted from the fund to make:
               (1)  a political contribution to another candidate, an
  officeholder, or a political committee;
               (2)  a campaign expenditure in connection with an
  office other than the office as to which the candidate accepted the
  money; or
               (3)  an officeholder expenditure.
         (c)  A candidate who uses money from the fund in violation of
  Subsection (b):
               (1)  is not eligible for any additional money from the
  fund; and
               (2)  is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed three
  times the amount of the money used in violation of Subsection (b).
         Sec. 259.055.   REFUND OF UNEXPENDED AMOUNTS.  (a)  Following
  the candidate's last election during the election cycle for which
  public financing is accepted, a candidate shall refund to the
  comptroller amounts accepted from the fund that have not been
  expended or contractually obligated.
         (b)  A refund under this section must be made not later than
  the 30th day after the date of:
               (1)  the primary election, if the candidate is not a
  candidate in the runoff primary election or the general election;
               (2)  the runoff primary election, if the candidate is a
  candidate in that election and is not a candidate in the general
  election; or
               (3)  the general election.
         (c)  The comptroller shall deposit refunds received under
  this section to the credit of the fund.
         (d)  A person who violates this section is liable for a civil
  penalty not to exceed three times the amount of money required to be
  refunded that was not refunded as required by this section.
         Sec. 259.056.  WITHDRAWAL, INELIGIBILITY, OR DEATH OF
  CANDIDATE.  (a)  A candidate who withdraws from an election or is
  declared ineligible shall refund to the comptroller amounts
  accepted from the fund that have not been expended or contractually
  obligated.  The candidate shall refund those amounts not later than
  the 10th day after the date the candidate withdraws or is declared
  ineligible.
         (b)  The campaign treasurer of a candidate who dies shall
  refund to the comptroller amounts accepted from the fund that have
  not been expended or contractually obligated.  The campaign
  treasurer shall refund those amounts not later than the 30th day
  after the date the candidate dies.
         (c)  The comptroller shall deposit refunds received under
  this section to the credit of the fund.
         (d)  A person who violates this section is liable for a civil
  penalty not to exceed three times the amount of money required to be
  refunded that was not refunded as required by this section.
         Sec. 259.057.  DEPOSIT OF CIVIL PENALTIES.  The comptroller
  shall deposit a civil penalty collected by the commission for a
  violation of this subchapter to the credit of the fund.
  SUBCHAPTER D.  RESTRICTIONS ON ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF
  POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
         Sec. 259.101.  ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRIBUTIONS PROHIBITED.  (a)
  Except as provided by Section 259.015, 259.017, or 259.103, a
  candidate or officeholder who accepts public financing or a
  specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing such a
  candidate or assisting such an officeholder may not accept a
  political contribution in connection with the office for which the
  candidate or officeholder accepted public financing.
         (b)  A person who violates this section is liable for a civil
  penalty not to exceed three times the amount of political
  contributions used in violation of this section.
         Sec. 259.102.  USE OF CONTRIBUTION FROM OTHER OFFICE
  PROHIBITED.  (a)  Except as provided by Section 259.103, a candidate
  or officeholder who accepts public financing or a specific-purpose
  committee for supporting such a candidate, opposing such a
  candidate's opponent, or assisting such an officeholder may not use
  a political contribution to make a campaign expenditure for the
  office for which the candidate or officeholder accepted public
  financing or to make an officeholder expenditure in connection with
  that office if the contribution was accepted while the candidate or
  officeholder:
               (1)  was a candidate for an office other than the office
  for which the candidate or officeholder accepted public financing;
  or
               (2)  held an office other than the office for which the
  candidate or officeholder accepted public financing, unless the
  person had become a candidate for that office and the contribution
  was accepted under Section 259.017.
         (b)  A person who violates this section is liable for a civil
  penalty not to exceed three times the amount of political
  contributions used in violation of this section.
         Sec. 259.103.  RESTRICTIONS NOT APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN
  OFFICEHOLDERS.  (a)  Sections 259.101 and 259.102 do not apply to an
  officeholder who accepted public financing and who seeks reelection
  to the office for which the officeholder accepted public financing
  or election to another office covered by this chapter if the
  officeholder files a written statement with the commission that the
  officeholder will not request public financing for the reelection
  or election.
         (b)  An officeholder who files a statement under Subsection
  (a) is not eligible for public financing for the reelection or
  election to which the statement relates.
         (c)  An officeholder who accepted public financing or a
  specific-purpose committee for assisting such an officeholder or
  for supporting such an officeholder as a candidate may not accept a
  political contribution before the officeholder files a statement
  under Subsection (a).
         (d)  A person who violates Subsection (c) is liable for a
  civil penalty not to exceed three times the amount of political
  contributions used in violation of Subsection (c).
         Sec. 259.104.  RETENTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR OFFICEHOLDER
  PURPOSES.  An officeholder who accepted public financing may retain
  and use for officeholder purposes the unexpended amount, if any, of
  political contributions accepted under Section 259.015 or 259.017.
         Sec. 259.105.  CERTAIN DIRECT CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES
  CONSIDERED CONTRIBUTION TO CANDIDATE.  For purposes of Section
  259.101, a direct campaign expenditure is considered to be a
  campaign contribution to a candidate if the expenditure is made
  with the cooperation or prior consent of, in consultation with, or
  at the suggestion of:
               (1)  the candidate;
               (2)  a specific-purpose committee for supporting the
  candidate or opposing the candidate's opponent; or
               (3)  a person acting with the candidate's knowledge and
  consent.
  SUBCHAPTER E. VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLET
         Sec. 259.131.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  This subchapter
  applies to each candidate certified as eligible for public
  financing.
         Sec. 259.132.  STATEMENT FILED BY CANDIDATE.  Not later than
  the 80th day before the date of the general election, a candidate
  for an office covered by this subchapter may file with the secretary
  of state an informational statement, on a form prescribed by the
  secretary, to be included in a voter information pamphlet for that
  election.
         Sec. 259.133.  STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  A candidate's
  statement must include a summary of the following information:
               (1)  current occupation;
               (2)  educational and occupational background;
               (3)  biographical information; and
               (4)  any previous experience serving in government.
         (b)  The secretary of state shall prescribe the format and
  length of the candidate's statement.
         Sec. 259.134.  REVIEW BY SECRETARY OF STATE.  (a)  Not later
  than the fifth day after the date the candidate's statement is
  received, the secretary of state shall review the statement to
  determine whether it complies with Section 259.133.
         (b)  If the secretary of state determines that the statement
  does not comply with Section 259.133, the secretary shall reject
  the statement and deliver written notice of the reason for the
  rejection to the candidate not later than the second day after the
  date of rejection.
         (c)  A candidate whose statement is rejected may resubmit the
  statement subject to the prescribed deadline.
         Sec. 259.135.  PREPARATION OF PAMPHLET.  (a)  The secretary
  of state shall contract for the preparation and printing of one or
  more voter information pamphlets after soliciting bids for that
  work.  The secretary may prepare separate pamphlets for different
  regions of the state, including in each pamphlet only statewide
  offices and the district offices for districts included in the
  region if the secretary determines that distributing multiple
  pamphlets is more economical than distributing a single pamphlet
  for statewide use.  The secretary may prepare or print the pamphlets
  if the secretary determines that the costs of that preparation or
  printing are less than or equal to the most reasonable bid
  submitted.
         (b)  On the request of the secretary of state, the commission
  shall direct the comptroller to transfer from the fund to the
  secretary the money necessary for preparation of the pamphlets.
         (c)  Each pamphlet must include each statement that complies
  with Sections 259.132 and 259.133 and is filed by a candidate for
  an office included in the pamphlet whom the commission has
  certified as eligible for public financing. Candidates whose names
  will appear on the ballot and write-in candidates must be shown in
  separate groups.  The order of the candidates' names within the
  groups is determined by a drawing conducted by the secretary of
  state.  Candidates whose names will appear on the ballot must be
  identified by party or as an independent candidate, as applicable.
         (d)  Each pamphlet must name each candidate for an office
  covered by this chapter and included in the pamphlet whom the
  commission has not certified as eligible for public financing and
  must identify each such candidate by party or as an independent or
  write-in candidate, as applicable.  The pamphlet may not contain
  any other information about a candidate to whom this subsection
  applies.
         (e)  The secretary of state shall prescribe appropriate
  explanatory material to be included in each pamphlet to assist the
  voters, including:
               (1)  a statement that the pamphlet may be used at the
  polls to assist the voters in marking their ballots; and
               (2)  a statement that candidates who are not eligible
  for public financing are not entitled to submit a candidate's
  statement for inclusion in the pamphlet.
         Sec. 259.136.  DISTRIBUTION OF PAMPHLET.  Not later than the
  45th day before the date of each general election, the secretary of
  state shall mail the appropriate voter information pamphlet to each
  household in this state in which a registered voter resides.
         Sec. 259.137.  ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES.  The secretary of
  state shall prescribe any additional procedures necessary to
  implement this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 253, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter G to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER G. CONTRIBUTION LIMITS FOR
  JUDICIAL OFFICE
         Sec. 253.201.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  This subchapter
  applies only to a political contribution or direct campaign
  expenditure in connection with:
               (1)  a statewide office in the judicial branch;
               (2)  the office of appellate court justice.
         Sec. 253.202.  CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.  (a)  Except as provided
  by Subsection (c), a person may not knowingly make or authorize
  political contributions to a candidate or officeholder that in the
  aggregate exceed the following limits in a calendar year:
               (1)  for a statewide judicial office, $2,500;
               (2)  for the office of appellate court justice, $1,000;
  or
         (b)  A person may not knowingly accept a political
  contribution, and shall refuse a political contribution that is
  received, in violation of Subsection (a).
         (c)  This section does not apply to a political contribution
  made by the principal political committee of the state executive
  committee of a political party.
         (d)  A person who violates this section is liable for a civil
  penalty not to exceed three times the amount of the political
  contributions made or accepted in violation of this section.
         Sec. 253.203.  CONTRIBUTION TO CERTAIN COMMITTEES
  CONSIDERED CONTRIBUTION TO CANDIDATE OR OFFICEHOLDER.  For purposes
  of Section 253.202, a political contribution to a specific-purpose
  committee for the purpose of supporting a candidate, opposing the
  candidate's opponent, or assisting the candidate as an officeholder
  is considered to be a contribution to the candidate or
  officeholder.
         Sec. 253.204.  CERTAIN DIRECT CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES
  CONSIDERED CONTRIBUTION TO CANDIDATE.  For purposes of Section
  253.202, a direct campaign expenditure is considered to be a
  campaign contribution to a candidate if the expenditure is made
  with the cooperation or prior consent of, in consultation with, or
  at the suggestion of:
               (1)  the candidate;
               (2)  a specific-purpose committee for supporting the
  candidate or opposing the candidate's opponent; or
               (3)  a person acting with the candidate's knowledge and
  consent.
         Sec. 253.205.  NOTICE TO CERTAIN CANDIDATES OR OFFICEHOLDERS
  OF INTENT TO ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS OR MAKE EXPENDITURES.  (a)  The
  campaign treasurer of a specific-purpose committee that intends to
  accept political contributions or make political expenditures for
  the purpose of supporting a candidate for an office to which this
  subchapter applies, opposing such a candidate's opponent, or
  assisting such a candidate as an officeholder shall deliver written
  notice of the committee's intent to the affected candidate or
  officeholder.
         (b)  The notice must include the full name and address of the
  specific-purpose committee and of its campaign treasurer.
         (c)  The notice must be delivered not later than the later
  of:
               (1)  the date the committee files its campaign
  treasurer appointment; or
               (2)  the third day after the date the committee
  determines that it intends to accept political contributions or
  make political expenditures for which notice under this section is
  required.
         (d)  A campaign treasurer who violates this section is liable
  for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed three times the
  political contributions accepted or political expenditures made
  for a purpose described by Subsection (a) before notice is
  delivered to the affected candidate or officeholder.
         Sec. 253.206.  NOTICE TO CANDIDATE, OFFICEHOLDER, OR
  COMMITTEE OF RECEIPT OF CONTRIBUTION.  (a)  The campaign treasurer
  of a specific-purpose committee that receives a political
  contribution or makes a direct campaign expenditure that is
  considered under Section 253.203 or 253.204 to be a contribution to
  a candidate or officeholder shall, not later than the fifth day
  after the date the contribution is received or the expenditure is
  made, deliver written notice of that fact to the affected candidate
  or officeholder.
         (b)  A candidate or officeholder who receives a political
  contribution covered by Section 253.202 shall, not later than the
  fifth day after the date the contribution is received, deliver
  written notice of that fact to the campaign treasurer of each
  specific-purpose committee that notifies the candidate or
  officeholder under Section 253.205 that the committee intends to
  accept political contributions or make political expenditures on
  the candidate's or officeholder's behalf.
         (c)  A notice under this section must include:
               (1)  the full name and address of the person receiving
  the political contribution and of the person's campaign treasurer,
  if any;
               (2)  the full name and address of the person making the
  contribution;
               (3)  the date the contribution is received; and
               (4)  the amount of the contribution.
         (d)  A person who violates this section is liable for a civil
  penalty in an amount not to exceed three times the amount of
  political contributions for which notice was not provided.
         Sec. 253.207.  RETURN OF EXCESS CONTRIBUTION.  (a)  A person
  who receives a political contribution the acceptance of which would
  violate Section 253.202 shall return the contribution to the
  contributor not later than the 10th day after the date the
  contribution is received.
         (b)  A political contribution that is not returned as
  required by this section is considered to be accepted.
         Sec. 253.208.  DEPOSIT OF CIVIL PENALTIES.  The comptroller
  shall deposit a civil penalty collected by the commission for a
  violation of this subchapter to the credit of the campaign
  financing fund established under Subchapter C, Chapter 259.
         SECTION 3.  Section 253.003(c), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  This section does not apply to a political contribution
  made or accepted in violation of Subchapter F or G.
         SECTION 4.  Section 253.004(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  This section does not apply to a political expenditure
  made or authorized in violation of Subchapter F or G.
         SECTION 5.  Section 253.005(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  This section does not apply to a political expenditure
  that is:
               (1)  prohibited by Section 253.101; or
               (2)  made from a political contribution made in
  violation of Subchapter F or G.
         SECTION 6.  Section 254.034, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
         (d-1)  This section applies to a political contribution
  covered by Subchapter G, Chapter 253, except as provided by Section
  253.207.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter C, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 254.0613 to read as follows:
         Sec. 254.0613.  ADDITIONAL CONTENTS OF REPORTS BY CERTAIN
  CANDIDATES.  In addition to the contents required by Sections
  254.031, 254.061, and 254.0612, each report by a candidate for an
  office to which Subchapter G, Chapter 253, applies must include:
               (1)  for each political contribution or direct campaign
  expenditure of which the candidate receives notice under Section
  253.206:
                     (A)  the full name and address of the committee
  receiving the contribution or making the expenditure;
                     (B)  the full name and address of the committee's
  campaign treasurer;
                     (C)  the full name and address of the person
  making the contribution, if applicable;
                     (D)  the date the contribution is received or
  expenditure is made;
                     (E) the amount of the contribution or
  expenditure; and
                     (F)  an indication of whether the committee
  accepted or refused the contribution; and
               (2)  for each person from whom, in the calendar year
  containing the period covered by the report, the candidate has
  accepted a political contribution or a specific-purpose committee
  has accepted a political contribution of which the candidate
  received notice under Section 253.206 or who has made a direct
  campaign expenditure considered under Section 253.204 to be a
  campaign contribution to the candidate, the aggregate total for
  that calendar year of:
                     (A)  political contributions accepted by the
  candidate and by the committee from the person; and
                     (B)  direct campaign expenditures made by the
  person.
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter D, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 254.0913 to read as follows:
         Sec. 254.0913.  ADDITIONAL CONTENTS OF REPORTS BY CERTAIN
  OFFICEHOLDERS.  In addition to the contents required by Sections
  254.031, 254.091, and 254.0912, each report by the holder of an
  office to which Subchapter G, Chapter 253, applies must include the
  contents prescribed by Section 254.0613.
         SECTION 9.  Subchapter E, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 254.1213 to read as follows:
         Sec. 254.1213.  ADDITIONAL CONTENTS OF REPORTS OF CERTAIN
  COMMITTEES.  In addition to the contents required by Sections
  254.031, 254.121, and 254.1212, each report by a specific-purpose
  committee for supporting or opposing a candidate for or assisting a
  holder of an office to which Subchapter G, Chapter 253, applies must
  include the contents prescribed by Section 254.0613.
         SECTION 10.  (a)  Subchapter G, Chapter 253, Election Code,
  as added by this Act, applies only to a political contribution
  accepted or a political expenditure made on or after September 1,
  2009.  A political contribution accepted or a political expenditure
  made before September 1, 2009, is governed by the law in effect at
  the time the contribution was accepted or the expenditure was made
  and is not aggregated with political contributions accepted or
  political expenditures made on or after that date.
         (b)  Sections 254.0613, 254.0913, and 254.1213, Election
  Code, as added by this Act, apply to the reporting of a political
  contribution accepted or political expenditure made on or after
  September 1, 2009.  The reporting of a political contribution
  accepted or political expenditure made before September 1, 2009, is
  governed by the law in effect at the time the contribution was
  accepted or the expenditure was made.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Chapter 259, Election Code, as added by
  this Act, a person who on September 1, 2009, held an office covered
  by that chapter and who had unexpended political contributions may
  use those contributions to make political expenditures for campaign
  or officeholder purposes.
         SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.