BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3903

By: Burkett

General Investigating & Ethics

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note discrepancies in the restriction on a judicial candidate or officeholder using a political contribution to make certain political contributions as compared to other candidates or officeholders. H.B. 3903 seeks to bring judicial candidates and officeholders in line with other candidates and elected officials regarding political contributions.

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. 3903 repeals Election Code provisions prohibiting a judicial candidate or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a judicial candidate from using a political contribution to knowingly make political contributions to a political committee in connection with a primary election and from using a political contribution to knowingly make a political contribution to a political committee that exceeds $500 when aggregated with each other political contribution to a political committee in connection with a general election; prohibiting a judicial officeholder or a specific-purpose committee for assisting a judicial officeholder from using a political contribution to knowingly make a political contribution in any calendar year in which the office held is not on the ballot to a political committee that exceeds $250 when aggregated with each other political contribution to a political committee in that calendar year; and exempting certain political contributions made to the principal political committee of the state executive committee or a county executive committee of a political party from statutory provisions relating to restrictions on certain contributions by judicial candidates, officeholders, and committees.

H.B. 3903 repeals Sections 253.1611(b), (c), (d), (e), and (f), Election Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.