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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of assistance by the Texas Ethics |
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Commission in the reporting of political contributions and |
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expenditures made in connection with offices of and measures |
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proposed by local 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 OF POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND |
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EXPENDITURES RELATED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL 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 expenditures made in connection with |
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offices of and measures proposed by local governmental entities by |
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allowing a local governmental entity or a candidate for or holder of |
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an office of a local governmental entity or a related |
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specific-purpose committee to use the commission's software and |
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other commission resources to file reports of political |
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contributions and expenditures required by Title 15, Election 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) "Measure," "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 reports of political contributions and expenditures |
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required by Title 15, Election Code, the commission may allow the |
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use of commission software and 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 reports of political contributions and expenditures; |
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(2) maintaining reports of political contributions |
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and expenditures for electronic publishing and filing; and |
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(3) providing public access through the commission's |
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Internet website to electronic reports of political contributions |
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and expenditures filed 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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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |