HBA-RBT H.B. 1955 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1955
By: Madden
Elections
3/15/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to Ethics Advisory Opinion 1984-2 the law "allows a person to
retain unexpended campaign contributions for only six years after that
person is no longer a candidate or office holder." H.B. 1955 adjusts the
statute so that it is more clearly in accordance with the ethics opinion. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 254.203(a), Election Code, to prohibit a
candidate from retaining political contributions, or interest and other
income earned on the contributions for more than six years after the later
of the date the person ceases to be an officeholder, or the date of the
most recent election in which the person was a candidate, rather than when
the person files a final report under this chapter.  Makes nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Requires a person who is no longer an officeholder or candidate
to dispose of unexpended political contributions, assets purchased with
political contributions, and interest or other income earned on political
contributions in compliance with Section 254.203 (Retention of
Contributions), Election Code, as amended by this Act, and requires a
person who was last a candidate after September 1, 1993, to do so,
regardless of whether the person has filed a final report under Chapter 254
(Political Reporting), Election Code. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.