BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1104

By: Harper-Brown

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, legislative caucuses that do not accept any monetary donations are still required to file a report with the Texas Ethics Commission. Interested parties contend that the primary purpose of filing such a report is to ensure transparency regarding contributions and expenditures and that it stands to reason that no report is necessary if no contributions or expenditures are made. H.B. 1104 seeks to align legislative caucus reporting requirements with actual reportable contributions and expenditures occurring during a reporting period.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1104 amends the Election Code to exempt a legislative caucus from being required to file a report of contributions and expenditures for a reporting period in which no reportable activity occurs.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.