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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reporting requirements of certain persons who do not |
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meet the definition of political committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 254.261, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) This section does not apply to a person to whom |
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Subchapter K applies. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 254, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter K to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER K. REPORTING BY CERTAIN PERSONS WHO DO NOT MEET THE |
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DEFINITION OF POLITICAL COMMITTEE |
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Sec. 254.281. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This |
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subchapter applies only to a person or a group of persons that: |
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(1) does not meet the definition of political |
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committee under Section 251.001(12); |
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(2) accepts political contributions as described by |
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Subsection (c); and |
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(3) makes one or more political expenditures, |
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excluding expenditures authorized by Section 253.098, 253.099, |
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253.100, or 253.104, that in the aggregate exceed $25,000 during a |
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calendar year. |
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(b) This subchapter does not apply to a labor organization |
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or any subordinate entity or associated account of a labor |
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organization. |
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(c) A person or group of persons accepts political |
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contributions if its members or donors make a payment, including |
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dues, to the person or group of persons and, at the time of making |
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the payments, the members or donors have reason to know that their |
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payments may be used to make political contributions or political |
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expenditures or may be commingled with other funds used to make |
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political contributions or political expenditures. |
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Sec. 254.282. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Except as |
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otherwise provided by this subchapter, a person or group of persons |
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shall comply with this chapter as if the person or group of persons |
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were the campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee that |
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does not file monthly reports under Section 254.155. |
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(b) A person or group of persons is not required to file a |
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campaign treasurer appointment for making expenditures or |
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contributions for which reporting is required under this section |
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unless the person is otherwise required to file a campaign |
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treasurer appointment under this title. |
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(c) A person or group of persons is not required to file a |
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report under this subchapter if: |
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(1) the person or group of persons is required to |
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disclose the expenditure or contribution in another report required |
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under this title within the time applicable under this section for |
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reporting the expenditure or contribution; or |
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(2) no reportable activity occurs during the reporting |
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period. |
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Sec. 254.283. CONTENTS OF REPORT. (a) Itemization of a |
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contribution under Section 254.031(a)(1) is required only if the |
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contribution exceeds $1,000 during the reporting period. |
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(b) The first report required to be filed in a calendar year |
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in which the $25,000 threshold under Section 254.281(a)(3) is |
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exceeded must include all political contributions accepted and all |
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political expenditures made in that calendar year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |