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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the making or acceptance of political contributions in |
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a courthouse; providing penalties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 253.039, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (h) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A person may not knowingly make or authorize a political |
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contribution while in the Capitol or a courthouse to: |
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(1) a candidate or officeholder; |
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(2) a political committee; or |
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(3) a person acting on behalf of a candidate, |
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officeholder, or political committee. |
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(b) A candidate, officeholder, or political committee or a |
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person acting on behalf of a candidate, officeholder, or political |
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committee may not knowingly accept a political contribution, and |
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shall refuse a political contribution that is received, in the |
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Capitol or a courthouse. |
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(c) This section does not prohibit contributions made in the |
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Capitol or a courthouse through the United States postal service or |
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a common or contract carrier. |
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(h) In this section, "courthouse" means any building owned |
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or occupied by the state, a county, or a municipality, including a |
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building or office leased to the state, a county, or a municipality, |
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in which a justice or judge sits to conduct court proceedings. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |