85S12252 MK-D
 
  By: Moody H.J.R. No. 54
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the governor or a
  specific-purpose committee for supporting or assisting the
  governor from accepting political contributions during a special
  legislative session.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article IV, Texas Constitution, is amended by
  adding Section 8a to read as follows:
         Sec. 8a.  (a) During the period beginning on the date a
  special legislative session called by the governor under Section
  40, Article III, of this constitution convenes and continuing
  through the date of final adjournment of the special legislative
  session, the governor or a specific-purpose committee for
  supporting or assisting the governor may not knowingly accept a
  political contribution and shall refuse a political contribution
  that is received during that period.  
         (b)  A political contribution that is received and refused
  during the period described by Subsection (a) of this section shall
  be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th day after the
  date of receipt. A contribution made by United States mail or by
  common or contract carrier is not considered received during that
  period if it was properly addressed and placed with postage or
  carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or delivered to
  the contract carrier before the beginning of the period. The date
  indicated by the post office cancellation mark or the common or
  contract carrier documents is considered to be the date the
  contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the common or
  contract carrier unless proven otherwise.
         (c)  This section does not apply to a political contribution
  that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used:
               (1)  in an election held or ordered during the period
  prescribed by Subsection (a) of this section in which the person
  accepting the contribution is a candidate if the contribution was
  made after the person appointed a campaign treasurer with the
  appropriate authority and before the person was sworn in for that
  office;
               (2)  to defray expenses incurred in connection with an
  election contest; or
               (3)  by the governor if the governor was defeated at the
  general election held immediately before the session is convened or
  by a specific-purpose committee that only supports or assists the
  governor.
         (d)  In this section, "political contribution" and
  "specific-purpose committee" have the meanings assigned by Section
  251.001, Election Code, or a successor statute.
         SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment prohibiting the
  governor or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or
  assisting the governor from accepting political contributions
  during a special legislative session."