BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1114

By: Gonzales, Larry

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have expressed concern that school districts may be generally ill-equipped to publish, in a manner more timely than is required by the current deadline, reports of political contributions and expenditures for a school bond election that are filed with the district by certain specific-purpose political committees created to support or oppose a measure. The concerned parties contend this delay could create confusion when an open records request for such a report is filed before an election. These parties suggest that these reports should be filed with the Texas Ethics Commission instead of a school district so that the reports can be published sooner and be made more readily available. In the interest of efficiency and transparency, H.B. 1114 seeks to impose this requirement.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1114 amends the Election Code to require a specific-purpose political committee created to support or oppose a measure on the issuance of bonds by a school district to file reports of political contributions and expenditures with the Texas Ethics Commission.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.