By: Cook H.B. No. 37
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
 
  relating to the reporting of certain political contributions and
  political expenditures by certain persons; adding provisions
  subject to a criminal penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 254.261, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  This section does not apply to a person to whom
  Subchapter K applies. 
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 254, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. REPORTING BY CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE NOT POLITICAL
  COMMITTEES
         Sec. 254.281.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This
  subchapter applies only to a person or group of persons that:
               (1)  is not a political committee;
               (2)  accepts political contributions as described by
  Subsection (b); and 
               (3)  makes one or more political expenditures,
  excluding expenditures authorized by Sections 253.098, 253.099,
  253.100, and 253.104, that in the aggregate exceed $25,000 during a
  calendar year.
         (b)  A person or group of persons accepts political
  contributions if a member or donor of the person or group makes a
  payment, including dues, to the person or group and, at the time
  that the member or donor makes the payment, the member or donor
  knows or has reason to know that the payment may be used to make a
  political contribution or political expenditure or may be comingled
  with other funds used to make a political contribution or political
  expenditure. A member or donor who signs a statement indicating
  that the member's or donor's payment to the person or group may not
  be used to make a political contribution or political expenditure
  does not have reason to know that the payment may be used to make a
  political contribution or political expenditure. 
         Sec. 254.282.  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (a) Except as
  otherwise provided by this subchapter, a person or group of persons
  shall comply with this subchapter as if the person or group were the
  campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee that does not
  file monthly reports under Section 254.155.
         (b)  A person or group of persons is not required to file a
  campaign treasurer appointment for making political expenditures
  for which reporting is required under this subchapter, unless the
  person is otherwise required to file a campaign treasurer
  appointment under this title.
         (c)  A person or group of persons is not required to file a
  report under this subchapter if:
               (1)  the person or group is required to disclose
  political contributions and political expenditures in another
  report required under this title within the time applicable under
  this subchapter for reporting the contributions and expenditures;
  or
               (2)  no reportable activity occurs during the reporting
  period.
         Sec. 254.283.  CONTENTS OF REPORT. (a) Itemization of a
  political contribution as provided by Section 254.031(a)(1) is
  required in a report under this subchapter only if the aggregate
  amount of contributions accepted from a person exceeds $1,000
  during the reporting period.
         (b)  The first report required to be filed in a calendar year
  in which the $25,000 threshold under Section 254.281(a)(3) is
  exceeded must include all political contributions accepted and all
  political expenditures made in the 12 months immediately preceding
  the acceptance of the contribution or the making of the expenditure
  that triggers the reporting requirements of this subchapter and not
  previously reported as required under this subchapter. 
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter K, Chapter 254, Election Code, as
  added by this Act, applies only to the reporting of a political
  contribution or political expenditure made on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A contribution or expenditure made
  before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
  effect when the contribution or expenditure was made, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.