BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 791
85R26985 MK-D	By: Lozano; Cain (Hinojosa)
	State Affairs
	5/8/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Section 572.021, Government Code, requires state officers, which includes state officials appointed by the governor, to submit a verified personal financial statement to the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC).

 

H.B. 3683 by Geren, as enacted by the 84th Legislature in 2015, under Section 572.0291, requires this statement to be submitted electronically, in accordance with rules set by TEC.

 

H.B. 791 would allow an official appointed by the governor before December 31, 2016, to file with TEC a required financial statement by certified mail if the individual did not have access to the Internet at home or did not own a computer.

 

This bill would take immediate effect if finally passed by a two-thirds record vote of the membership of each house. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2017.

 

H.B. 791 amends current law relating to allowing certain individuals appointed by the governor to state office to file required financial statements by certified mail. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

H.B. 791 amends current law relating to allowing individuals appointed to state office to file required financial statements by certified mail.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 572.0291, Government Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 572.0291. ELECTRONIC FILING REQUIRED. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Creates an exception under Subsection (b).

 

(b) Authorizes an individual who was appointed to office and who is required to file a financial statement with the Texas Ethics Commission under this subchapter (Personal Financial Statement) to file the financial statement by certified mail. Requires that the filing by mail be in compliance with Section 572.029 (Timeliness of Filing).

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.