BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2471

By: Davis, Sarah

General Investigating & Ethics

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that there should be a clear rule against a political subdivision spending or authorizing the use of public funds to make political contributions or expenditures. H.B. 2471 seeks to clearly prohibit such actions.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes 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. 2471 amends the Election Code to prohibit an officer or employee of a political subdivision from spending or authorizing the spending of public funds to make a political contribution or a political expenditure and from directly or indirectly employing a person to use public funds to make such an unlawful contribution or expenditure. The bill creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for an officer or employee of a political subdivision who violates those prohibitions.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.