82R1599 ATP-F
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 59
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of assistance by the Texas Ethics
  Commission in the reporting of political contributions and
  expenditures made in connection with offices of and measures
  proposed by local governmental entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 571, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER G. REPORTING OF POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND
  EXPENDITURES RELATED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND OFFICERS
         Sec. 571.201.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to
  further the objective of fully disclosing information related to
  political contributions and expenditures made in connection with
  offices of and measures proposed by local governmental entities by
  allowing a local governmental entity or a candidate for or holder of
  an office of a local governmental entity or a related
  specific-purpose committee to use the commission's software and
  other commission resources to file reports of political
  contributions and expenditures required by Title 15, Election Code.
         Sec. 571.202.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Local governmental entity" and "local government
  officer" have the meanings assigned by Section 176.001, Local
  Government Code.
               (2)  "Measure," "political contribution," "political
  expenditure," and "specific-purpose committee" have the meanings
  assigned by Section 251.001, Election Code.
         Sec. 571.203.  USE OF COMMISSION SOFTWARE AND RESOURCES.
  (a)  To fulfill the purpose of this subchapter and to facilitate
  filing of reports of political contributions and expenditures
  required by Title 15, Election Code, the commission may allow the
  use of commission software and resources by:
               (1)  a local governmental entity;
               (2)  a local government officer;
               (3)  a candidate for an office of a local governmental
  entity; or
               (4)  a specific-purpose committee for supporting or
  opposing a candidate for an office of a local governmental entity,
  assisting a local government officer, or supporting or opposing a
  measure proposed by a local governmental entity.
         (b)  The commission may provide assistance to a local
  governmental entity, a local government officer, a candidate for an
  office of a local governmental entity, or a specific-purpose
  committee by:
               (1)  developing software to facilitate electronic
  filing of reports of political contributions and expenditures;
               (2)  maintaining reports of political contributions
  and expenditures for electronic publishing and filing; and
               (3)  providing public access through the commission's
  Internet website to electronic reports of political contributions
  and expenditures filed by:
                     (A)  a local governmental entity;
                     (B)  a local government officer;
                     (C)  a candidate for an office of a local
  governmental entity; or
                     (D)  a specific-purpose committee for supporting
  or opposing a candidate for an office of a local governmental
  entity, assisting a local government officer, or supporting or
  opposing a measure proposed by a local governmental entity.
         (c)  The commission may enter into an intergovernmental
  contract with a local governmental entity to provide the assistance
  described by Subsection (b).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.