BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1379

By: Davis, Sarah

General Investigating & Ethics

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties are concerned that out-of-state political committees that do not file a campaign treasurer appointment are not subject to certain reporting requirements applicable to general‑purpose political committees in Texas. H.B. 1379 seeks to subject such out-of-state committees to certain general-purpose political committee reporting requirements.

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

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1379 amends the Election Code to require an out-of-state political committee that does not file a campaign treasurer appointment to comply with the requirement to give notice of a general-purpose committee, other than the principal political committee of a political party or a political committee established by a political party's county executive committee, that accepts political contributions or makes political expenditures for a candidate or officeholder to the affected candidate or officeholder. The bill requires such an out-of-state political committee to designate an officer of the committee to provide the notice. The bill requires an out-of-state political committee that does not file a campaign treasurer appointment to comply with statutory provisions relating to the reporting of a direct campaign expenditure exceeding $100.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.