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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the governor or a |
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specific-purpose committee for supporting or assisting the |
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governor from accepting political contributions during a special |
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legislative session. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article IV, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 8a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8a. (a) During the period beginning on the date a |
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special legislative session called by the governor under Section |
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40, Article III, of this constitution convenes and continuing |
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through the date of final adjournment of the special legislative |
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session, the governor or a specific-purpose committee for |
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supporting or assisting the governor may not knowingly accept a |
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political contribution and shall refuse a political contribution |
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that is received during that period. |
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(b) A political contribution that is received and refused |
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during the period described by Subsection (a) of this section shall |
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be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th day after the |
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date of receipt. A contribution made by United States mail or by |
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common or contract carrier is not considered received during that |
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period if it was properly addressed and placed with postage or |
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carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or delivered to |
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the contract carrier before the beginning of the period. The date |
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indicated by the post office cancellation mark or the common or |
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contract carrier documents is considered to be the date the |
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contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the common or |
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contract carrier unless proven otherwise. |
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(c) This section does not apply to a political contribution |
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that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used: |
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(1) in an election held or ordered during the period |
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prescribed by Subsection (a) of this section in which the person |
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accepting the contribution is a candidate if the contribution was |
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made after the person appointed a campaign treasurer with the |
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appropriate authority and before the person was sworn in for that |
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office; |
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(2) to defray expenses incurred in connection with an |
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election contest; or |
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(3) by the governor if the governor was defeated at the |
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general election held immediately before the session is convened or |
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by a specific-purpose committee that only supports or assists the |
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governor. |
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(d) In this section, "political contribution" and |
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"specific-purpose committee" have the meanings assigned by Section |
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251.001, Election Code, or a successor statute. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment prohibiting the |
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governor or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or |
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assisting the governor from accepting political contributions |
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during a special legislative session." |