BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1761

By: Zaffirini

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In Texas, some candidates, political committees, and general-purpose committees are required to file campaign reports regarding contributions received during the final days before an election. However, it has been noted that these reporting requirements contain anachronistic references to submitting these reports via telegram. There have been calls to remove the outdated references from statute in order to better reflect modern practices. S.B. 1761 seeks to address this issue by revising these reporting requirements and to provide for the reporting of political expenditures made with a credit card.

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

S.B. 1761 amends the Election Code to require the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC), in prescribing the format of a political contribution and expenditure report, including a report filed with an authority other than the TEC, to ensure the following with regards to political expenditures made with a credit card:

· that the expenditures be reported in a single itemized list; and

· that the list include the following, stated by credit card issuer:

o the name of the credit card issuer;

o the date and amount of each expenditure; and

o the date the credit card issuer was repaid for the expenditure.

S.B. 1761 removes the option for certain special reports filed near an election by candidates, political committees, and general-purpose committees to be filed by telegram.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.