HBA-JEK H.B. 1180 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1180 By: Capelo Elections 3/27/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Political pressure placed on a judge by a political party has the potential to influence rulings and compromise justice. House Bill 1180 requires political party officers to disclose any contact they have with a judge of this state that occurs outside of an official proceeding but relates to a proceeding conducted by the judge. 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 1180 amends the Election Code to require certain officers of a political party to disclose each contact the officer has with a judge of this state that occurs outside of an official proceeding conducted by the judge and concerns a judicial proceeding that is pending before the judge. The bill applies only to a political party officer who is a county chair, precinct chair, or member of the state executive committee. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the making and filing of a disclosure of a contact by a party officer. It establishes that a person who fails to make a disclosure as required by this bill commits a Class A misdemeanor. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.