85S11040 ATP-D
 
  By: Fallon H.B. No. 333
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the timely filing of reports of political contributions
  and expenditures; increasing a criminal penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 254.041, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsections (b-1) and
  [Subsection] (c), an offense under this section is a Class C
  misdemeanor.
         (b-1)  A violation of Subsection (a)(1) is a Class B
  misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the
  person knowingly failed to file three or more consecutive reports
  under this chapter on time.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a report required to be filed under Chapter 254, Election Code, on
  or after the effective date of this Act.  A report required to be
  filed before the effective date of this Act is subject to the law in
  effect at the time the report was filed, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect December 1, 2017.