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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the revision or repeal of certain obsolete provisions |
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related to restrictions on political advertising, political |
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contributions, and political expenditures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 253, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 253.105 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 253.105. CONTRIBUTIONS TO DIRECT EXPENDITURE ONLY |
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COMMITTEES. (a) A corporation or labor organization may make a |
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political contribution from its own property to a political |
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committee that: |
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(1) is not established or controlled by a candidate or |
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an officeholder; |
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(2) makes or intends to make direct campaign |
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expenditures; |
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(3) does not make or intend to make political |
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contributions to: |
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(A) a candidate; |
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(B) an officeholder; |
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(C) a specific-purpose committee established or |
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controlled by a candidate or an officeholder; or |
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(D) a political committee that makes or intends |
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to make political contributions to a candidate, an officeholder, or |
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a specific-purpose committee established or controlled by a |
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candidate or an officeholder; and |
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(4) has filed an affidavit with the commission stating |
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the committee's intention to operate as described by Subdivisions |
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(2) and (3). |
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(b) A political contribution made by a corporation or labor |
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organization under this section does not constitute a violation of |
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Section 253.094(a) and the acceptance of the political contribution |
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does not constitute a violation of Section 253.003(b). |
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SECTION 2. Section 302.021(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A speaker candidate or former speaker candidate commits |
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an offense if the person: |
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(1) knowingly fails to file the declaration of |
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candidacy required by Section 302.0121; |
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(2) knowingly fails to file the statement required by |
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Section 302.013; |
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(3) knowingly accepts a contribution, loan, or promise |
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of a contribution or loan in violation of Section 302.0121(c); |
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(4) [knowingly accepts a contribution, loan, or
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promise of a contribution or loan prohibited by Section 302.017
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from a corporation, partnership, association, firm, union,
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foundation, committee, club, or other organization or group of
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persons;
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[(5)] knowingly accepts a contribution from a person |
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who uses political contributions, interest earned on political |
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contributions, or an asset purchased with political contributions |
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to make the contribution in violation of Section 302.0191; |
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(5) [(6)] expends campaign funds for any purpose other |
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than those enumerated in Section 302.020; |
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(6) [(7)] knowingly retains contributions, assets |
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purchased with contributions, or interest or other income earned on |
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contributions in violation of Section 302.0201(b); or |
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(7) [(8)] knowingly fails to file the report of |
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unexpended campaign funds as required by Section 302.0201(d). |
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SECTION 3. Section 306.006(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A person may not use audio or visual materials produced |
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by or under the direction of the legislature or of a house, |
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committee, or agency of the legislature for a commercial purpose |
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unless the legislative entity that produced the audio or visual |
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materials or under whose direction the audio or visual materials |
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were produced gives its permission for the person's commercial use |
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and: |
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(1) the person uses the audio or visual materials only |
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for educational or public affairs programming, including news |
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programming[, that does not also constitute a use prohibited under
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Section 306.005]; or |
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(2) the person transmits an unedited feed of the audio |
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or visual materials: |
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(A) to paid subscribers; or |
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(B) on an Internet website that is accessible to |
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the public. |
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SECTION 4. Section 306.006(g)(2), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Visual materials" means photographic, video, or |
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other material containing a still or moving recorded image or |
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images [has the meaning assigned by Section 306.005]. |
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SECTION 5. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Sections 253.037(a) and (c), Election Code; |
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(2) Section 302.017, Government Code; |
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(3) Section 302.019, Government Code; and |
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(4) Section 306.005, Government Code. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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