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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring candidates for certain offices to pay a |
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filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee to appear on |
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the ballot for the general election for state and county officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 141, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 141.040 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 141.040. FILING FEE OR PETITION FOR CERTAIN OFFICES |
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ELECTED AT GENERAL ELECTION FOR STATE AND COUNTY OFFICERS. (a) |
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This section applies only to the following offices: |
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(1) state representative; |
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(2) state senator; and |
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(3) an office of the state government elected |
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statewide. |
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(b) In addition to any other requirements, to be eligible to |
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be placed on the ballot for the general election for state and |
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county officers, a candidate who has not paid a filing fee or |
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submitted a petition in lieu of a filing fee as a candidate in a |
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primary election or as a write-in candidate must: |
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(1) pay a filing fee to the secretary of state; or |
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(2) submit to the secretary of state a petition in lieu |
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of a filing fee that satisfies the requirements prescribed by |
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Subsection (e) and Section 141.062. |
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(c) The amount of the filing fee is $500 for a candidate for |
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state representative or state senator and $1,000 for a candidate |
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for an office of state government elected statewide. |
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(d) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in |
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a special account in the general revenue fund that may be |
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appropriated only to the secretary of state to help defray costs |
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involved with the holding of the general election for state and |
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county officers. |
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(e) The minimum number of signatures that must appear on the |
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petition authorized by Subsection (b) is: |
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(1) 500, for the office of state senator or state |
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representative; or |
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(2) 5,000, for a statewide office. |
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(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |