83R6422 EES-F
 
  By: Naishtat H.B. No. 2211
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the availability on the Internet of reports of
  political contributions and expenditures and financial statements
  filed in connection with certain county offices.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 254.04012 to read as follows:
         Sec. 254.04012.  AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS OF JUSTICES OF THE
  PEACE AND COUNTY JUDGES ON INTERNET. (a) A report filed under this
  chapter with a county clerk by a justice of the peace, a candidate
  for the office of justice of the peace, a county judge, or a
  candidate for the office of county judge must be made available to
  the public on the county's Internet website if the county maintains
  an Internet website.
         (b)  If a county is required to make a report available on the
  county's Internet website under Subsection (a), the county shall
  make the report available for free and may not require a person to
  register with the county to view the report.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 159, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 159.0061 to read as follows:
         Sec. 159.0061.  AVAILABILITY OF STATEMENTS OF JUSTICES OF
  THE PEACE AND COUNTY JUDGES ON INTERNET. (a) If a county maintains
  an Internet website, the county shall make available to the public
  on the county's Internet website each financial statement filed
  under this subchapter with the county clerk by a justice of the
  peace, a candidate for the office of justice of the peace, a county
  judge, or a candidate for the office of county judge.
         (b)  If a county is required to make a report available on the
  county's Internet website under Subsection (a), the county shall
  make the report available for free and may not require a person to
  register with the county to view the report.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 159, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 159.0342 to read as follows:
         Sec. 159.0342.  AVAILABILITY OF STATEMENTS OF JUSTICES OF
  THE PEACE ON INTERNET. (a) If a county maintains an Internet
  website, the county shall make available to the public on the
  county's Internet website any financial statement filed under this
  subchapter with the county clerk by a justice of the peace or a
  candidate for the office of justice of the peace.
         (b)  If a county is required to make a report available on the
  county's Internet website under Subsection (a), the county shall
  make the report available for free and may not require a person to
  register with the county to view the report.
         SECTION 4.  (a) Section 254.04012, Election Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a report required to be filed under
  Chapter 254, Election Code, that is due on or after January 1, 2014.
         (b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 159, Local
  Government Code, apply only to a financial statement or report
  required to be filed under that chapter that is due on or after
  January 1, 2014.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.