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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a prohibition on the acceptance of a political |
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contribution by members of the legislature and certain political |
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committees during a period when a house of the legislature does not |
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have a quorum present. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 253.0342 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 253.0342. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS DURING PERIOD |
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WHEN LEGISLATURE HAS NO QUORUM. (a) During a period in which a |
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house of the legislature does not have a quorum present, a member of |
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the legislature or a specific-purpose committee for supporting, |
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opposing, or assisting a member of the legislature: |
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(1) may not knowingly accept a political contribution |
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during that period; and |
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(2) shall refuse any political contribution received |
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during that period. |
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(b) A member of the legislature or a specific-purpose |
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committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting a member of the |
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legislature who receives and refuses a political contribution |
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during the period described by Subsection (a) shall return the |
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contribution to the contributor not later than the 30th day after |
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the date of receipt. |
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(c) A political contribution made by United States mail or |
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by common or contract carrier is not considered received during |
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that period if the contribution was properly addressed and placed |
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with postage or carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail |
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or delivered to the common or contract carrier before the beginning |
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of the period. The date indicated by the post office cancellation |
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mark or the common or contract carrier documents is considered to be |
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the date the contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the |
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common or contract carrier unless proven otherwise. |
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SECTION 2. Section 253.0342, Election Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a political contribution accepted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |