87R19622 SGM-F
 
  By: King of Parker, Paul, Cain, Patterson, H.B. No. 2283
      Schofield
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2283:
 
  By:  Clardy C.S.H.B. No. 2283
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prohibition of certain contributions and donations
  for the administration of elections.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 31, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 31.126 to read as follows:
         Sec. 31.126.  PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) The joint
  elections commission, county election commission, and county
  election board may not:
               (1)  accept a contribution of $1,000 or more, including
  the value of in-kind donations, offered by:
                     (A)  a private individual;
                     (B)  a corporation;
                     (C)  a partnership;
                     (D)  a trust; or
                     (E)  another third party; or
               (2)  use a contribution described by Subdivision (1) to
  perform a function of administering elections.
         (b)  The joint elections commission, county election
  commission, and county election board may accept a contribution of
  less than $1,000 only with written consent from the relevant
  political subdivision.
         (c)  This section does not prohibit the acceptance of:
               (1)  an in-kind contribution of food or beverage for
  election workers during the administration of an election; or
               (2)  any state or federal funds administered or
  distributed by the secretary of state, including funds administered
  and distributed under Section 31.009.
         SECTION 2.  Section 81.032, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.032.  ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS. (a)
  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] commissioners court
  may accept a donation of labor or services, gift, grant, donation,
  bequest, or devise of money or other property on behalf of the
  county, including a donation under Chapter 38, Government Code, for
  the purpose of performing a function conferred by law on the county
  or a county officer.
         (b)  The commissioners court may not:
               (1)  accept a donation of $1,000 or more for the purpose
  of administering elections; or
               (2)  use or appropriate a donation described by
  Subsection (a) to perform a function of administering elections.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.