HBA-SEP H.B. 1061 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1061
By: Madden
Judicial Affairs
4/12/2001
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, statutory court judges with jurisdiction over a single
county only have to file reports with the county clerk which makes it
difficult to evaluate what is on record for each of these judges without
visiting the documents repository or making document requests by mail or
telephone which may require added time, effort, and expense.  House Bill
1061 requires these judges, specific-purpose committees, and judicial
candidates to report to the Texas Ethics Commission.  

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1061 amends the Election Code to require a candidate for an
office of a statutory court who is required to file a report of political
contributions to also file the report with the Texas Ethics Commission
(commission).  The bill requires the holder of an office of a statutory
county court who is required to file a report under reporting by an
officeholder to also file the report with the commission.  The bill also
requires a specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a
candidate for or assisting a holder of an office of a statutory county
court that is required to file a report to file the report with the
commission.  A report required by a semiannual reporting schedule for
candidate, officeholder, or committee must be filed with the commission not
later than the 30th day after the prescribed dates.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 requires a candidate for an office of a statutory
probate court who is required to file a report of political contributions
to also file the report with the Texas Ethics Commission.