HBA-KMH H.B. 3325 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3325
By: Gallego
Elections
3/29/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 3325 removes an exemption given to  out-of-state political committees
regarding contributions to a candidate at a time that the campaign
treasurer appointment is not in effect.  This bill also provides that
out-of-state political committees must report certain political
contributions and certain political expenditures.  This bill repeals
Sections 251.005 (Out-of-State Committees Excluded) and 253.032 (Limitation
on Contribution by Out-of-State Committee), Election Code. 

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 253.031, Election Code, to delete the text of
Subsection (e) which prohibited the application of this section to an
out-of-state political committee unless the committee is subject to Chapter
252 (Campaign Treasurer) under Section 251.005 (Out-of-State Committees
Excluded).  This section prohibits contributions and expenditures by a
candidate or political committee at a time that a campaign treasurer
appointment is not in effect, generally.  Redesignates the existing text of
Subsection (f) as Subsection (e). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, by adding
Section 254.0312, as follows: 

Sec.  254.0312.  REPORTING BY OUT-OF-STATE POLITICAL COMMITTEE.  Provides
that out-of-state political committees are no longer required to provide
information described by Sections 254.031 (a)(3), (5), and (6) (General
Contents of Reports).  Provides that out-ofstate political committees must
provide: 

(1) the amount of political expenditures in connection with elections in
this state that in the aggregate exceed $50 and that are made during the
reporting period, the full name and address of the persons to whom the
expenditures are made, and the dates and purpose of the expenditures; 

(2) the total amount or a specific listing of the political contributions
of $50 or less accepted and the total amount or a specific listing of the
political expenditures in connection with elections in this state of $50 or
less made during the reporting period; and 

(3) the total amount of all political contributions accepted and the total
amount of all political expenditures in connection with elections in this
state made during the reporting period. 

SECTION 3.  Repealer: Sections 251.005 (Out-of-State Committees Excluded)
and 253.032 (Limitation on Contribution by Out-of-State Committee),
Election Code. 

SECTION 4.  (a) Provides that amended Section 253.031, Election Code, of
this Act is prospective as it applies to political contributions accepted
or political expenditures made by an out-of-state  committee on or after
September 1, 1999. 

(b) Provides that proposed Section 254.0312, Election Code, of  this Act is
prospective as it applies to the reporting of political contributions
accepted or political expenditures made on or after September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.