BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1532

By: Geren

State Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have expressed concerns regarding what they perceive as an insufficiency of   Texas campaign finance reporting requirements for certain political candidates and entities, including requirements relating to the frequency of the reporting, which currently are filed relatively infrequently, and the filing deadlines for required reports. C.S.H.B. 1532 seeks to increase the frequency of political financial reporting.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Ethics Commission in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1532 amends the Election Code to require a holder of a statewide office or the office of state representative or state senator, a candidate for such an office, or a specific-purpose committee supporting or opposing a candidate for such an office or assisting a holder of such an office to file four reports of political contributions and expenditures each year. The bill establishes the quarterly reporting schedule, describes the reporting period, and requires the first quarterly report to be filed not later than April 15, the second report to be filed not later than July 15, the third report to be filed not later than October 15, and the fourth report to be filed not later than January 15. 

C.S.H.B. 1532 increases from two to four the number of reports of political contributions and expenditures a campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee is required to file each year. The bill revises a campaign treasurer's semiannual reporting schedule, and the applicable reporting periods, to reflect a quarterly reporting schedule, requiring the first report to be filed not later than April 15, the second report to be filed not later than July 15, the third report to be filed not later than October 15, and the fourth report to be filed not later than January 15.

C.S.H.B. 1532 requires the statutory threshold amounts of political contributions and expenditures for a person who files a quarterly report to be divided by two and requires the Texas Ethics Commission to adopt rules to implement this provision.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2016.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1532 differs from the original only by amending the caption.