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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the availability on the Internet of reports of |
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political expenditures and contributions filed in connection with |
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certain county and municipal offices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 254.0401, Election Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.0401. AVAILABILITY OF [ELECTRONIC] REPORTS ON |
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INTERNET. |
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SECTION 2. Section 254.0401, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-1) and (c) and amending Subsection (f) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a-1) The county clerk of a county with a population of |
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800,000 or more shall make a report filed with the clerk by a |
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candidate, officeholder, or specific-purpose committee under this |
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subchapter in connection with a county office or the office of |
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county commissioner available to the public on the county's |
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Internet website not later than the second business day after the |
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date the report is filed. |
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(c) The clerk of a municipality with a population of 500,000 |
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or more shall make a report filed with the clerk by a candidate, |
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officeholder, or specific-purpose committee under this subchapter |
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in connection with the office of mayor or member of the |
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municipality's governing body available to the public on the |
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municipality's Internet website not later than the second business |
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day after the date the report is filed. |
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(f) The commission shall clearly state on the Internet |
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website on which reports are provided [under Subsection (b)] that |
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reports filed by an independent candidate, a third-party candidate, |
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or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing an |
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independent or third-party candidate will not be available if the |
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candidate or committee has not yet filed a report. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Section 254.0401(b), Election Code, is |
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repealed. |
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(b) Effective January 1, 2012, Section 176.009(b), Local |
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Government Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 4. Section 254.0401, Election Code, as amended by |
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this Act, and Section 176.009, Local Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, apply only to a report of political contributions and |
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expenditures that is required to be filed under Chapter 254, |
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Election Code, on or after January 1, 2012. |
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SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |