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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain limitations on a journalist's qualified |
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privilege not to testify. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 22.023, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A person is not acting as a journalist for purposes of |
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this section if, in relation to the subject of the official |
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proceeding: |
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(1) the person, during the four years immediately |
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preceding the events that are the subject of the official |
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proceeding, makes direct campaign expenditures, as defined by |
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Section 251.001, Election Code; |
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(2) the person, during the 12 months immediately |
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preceding the events that are the subject of the official |
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proceeding, makes contributions to or expenditures for |
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administrative or other expenses of a political committee, as |
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defined by Section 251.001, Election Code, that exceed an aggregate |
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of $250; |
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(3) the federal Internal Revenue Service Form 990, or |
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any subsequent form with a different number or designation that |
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provides substantially the same information, of the person or |
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another entity states that the person is related to a tax-exempt or |
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taxable entity and the related entity is described by Subdivision |
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(1) or (2); or |
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(4) the person's work product is produced as an |
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employee or contractor or under the control of a person described by |
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Subdivision (1), (2), or (3), or the person acts on behalf of a |
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person described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3). |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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with respect to testimony regarding or production or disclosure of |
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information, documents, or items, or the source of any information, |
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document, or item, obtained or prepared on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. Testimony regarding and production or disclosure |
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of information, documents, or items, or the source of any |
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information, document, or item, obtained or prepared before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |