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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to disclosure reports filed with the Texas Ethics |
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Commission concerning political contributions and expenditures |
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made in connection with offices of and measures proposed by local |
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governmental entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 571, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. REPORTING RELATED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL |
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ENTITIES AND OFFICERS |
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Sec. 571.201. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to |
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further the objective of fully disclosing information related to |
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political contributions and political expenditures made in |
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connection with offices of local governmental entities by allowing |
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a local governmental entity or a candidate for or holder of an |
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office of a local governmental entity to use the commission's |
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software and other commission resources to file disclosure reports |
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of contributions and expenditures required by Title 15, Election |
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Code. |
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Sec. 571.202. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Local governmental entity" and "local government |
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officer" have the meanings assigned by Section 176.001, Local |
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Government Code. |
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(2) "Political contribution," "political |
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expenditure," and "specific-purpose committee" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 251.001, Election Code. |
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Sec. 571.203. USE OF COMMISSION SOFTWARE AND RESOURCES. |
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(a) To fulfill the purpose of this subchapter and to facilitate |
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filing of disclosure statements regarding political contributions |
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and expenditures and reports required by Title 15, Election Code, |
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the commission may allow the use of commission software and |
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resources by: |
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(1) a local governmental entity; |
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(2) a local government officer; |
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(3) a candidate for an office of a local governmental |
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entity; or |
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(4) a specific-purpose committee for supporting or |
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opposing a candidate for an office of a local governmental entity, |
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assisting a local government officer, or supporting or opposing a |
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measure proposed by a local governmental entity. |
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(b) The commission may provide assistance to a local |
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governmental entity, a local government officer, a candidate for an |
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office of a local governmental entity, or a specific-purpose |
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committee by: |
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(1) developing software to facilitate electronic |
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filing of disclosure statements and reports; |
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(2) accepting disclosure statements and reports for |
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electronic filing; and |
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(3) providing public access through the Internet to |
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electronic disclosure statements and reports filed with the |
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commission by: |
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(A) a local governmental entity; |
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(B) a local government officer; |
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(C) a candidate for an office of a local |
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governmental entity; or |
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(D) a specific-purpose committee for supporting |
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or opposing a candidate for an office of a local governmental |
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entity, assisting a local government officer, or supporting or |
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opposing a measure proposed by a local governmental entity. |
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(c) The commission may enter into an intergovernmental |
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contract with a local governmental entity to provide the assistance |
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described by Subsection (b). |
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Sec. 571.204. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER TO CERTAIN ENTITIES |
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AND PERSONS. Unless expressly provided by this subchapter, the |
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provisions of Subchapters A-F do not apply to the filing of a |
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disclosure statement or report under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |