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AN ACT
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relating to direct campaign expenditures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 253.094, Election Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 253.094. CONTRIBUTIONS [AND EXPENDITURES] PROHIBITED. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 253.094(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A corporation or labor organization may not make a |
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political contribution [or political expenditure] that is not |
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authorized by this subchapter. |
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(b) A corporation or labor organization may not make a |
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political contribution [or political expenditure] in connection |
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with a recall election, including the circulation and submission of |
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a petition to call an election. |
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SECTION 3. Section 254.036(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) or [,] (e), [or
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(f),] each report filed under this chapter with the commission must |
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be filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic |
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transfer, using computer software provided by the commission or |
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computer software that meets commission specifications for a |
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standard file format. |
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SECTION 4. Section 254.061, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.061. ADDITIONAL CONTENTS OF REPORTS. In addition |
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to the contents required by Section 254.031, each report by a |
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candidate must include: |
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(1) the candidate's full name and address, the office |
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sought, and the identity and date of the election for which the |
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report is filed; |
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(2) the campaign treasurer's name, residence or |
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business street address, and telephone number; |
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(3) for each political committee from which the |
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candidate received notice under Section 254.128 or 254.161: |
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(A) the committee's full name and address; |
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(B) an indication of whether the committee is a |
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general-purpose committee or a specific-purpose committee; and |
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(C) the full name and address of the committee's |
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campaign treasurer; and |
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(4) [the full name and address of each individual
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acting as a campaign treasurer of a political committee under
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Section 253.062 from whom the candidate received notice under
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Section 254.128 or 254.161; and
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[(5)] on a separate page or pages of the report, the |
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identification of any payment from political contributions made to |
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a business in which the candidate has a participating interest of |
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more than 10 percent, holds a position on the governing body of the |
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business, or serves as an officer of the business. |
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SECTION 5. Chapter 254, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. REPORTING BY CERTAIN PERSONS MAKING DIRECT CAMPAIGN |
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EXPENDITURES |
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Sec. 254.261. DIRECT CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE EXCEEDING $100. |
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(a) A person not acting in concert with another person who makes |
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one or more direct campaign expenditures in an election from the |
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person's own property shall comply with this chapter as if the |
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person were the campaign treasurer of a general-purpose committee |
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that does not file monthly reports under Section 254.155. |
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(b) A person is not required to file a report under this |
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section if the person is required to disclose the expenditure in |
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another report required under this title within the time applicable |
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under this section for reporting the expenditure. |
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(c) This section does not require a general-purpose |
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committee that files under the monthly reporting schedule to file |
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reports under Section 254.154. |
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(d) A person is not required to file a campaign treasurer |
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appointment for making expenditures for which reporting is required |
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under this section, unless the person is otherwise required to file |
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a campaign treasurer appointment under this title. |
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Sec. 254.262. TRAVEL EXPENSE. A direct campaign |
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expenditure consisting of personal travel expenses incurred by a |
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person may be made without complying with Section 254.261. |
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SECTION 6. The following laws are repealed: |
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(1) Sections 253.002 and 253.097, Election Code; |
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(2) Subchapter C, Chapter 253, Election Code; and |
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(3) Section 254.036(f), Election Code. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2359 was passed by the House on May |
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11, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 14, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2359 was passed by the Senate on May |
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24, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0 |
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. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |