HBA-JEK C.S.H.B. 1180 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1180 By: Capelo Elections 4/23/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Political pressure placed on a judge by a political party has the potential to influence rulings and compromise justice. C.S.H.B. 1180 requires judges of this state to disclose any contacts they have with political party officers that occur outside of an official proceeding but relate 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 C.S.H.B. 1180 amends the Election Code to require a judge of this state to disclose each contact the judge has with certain officers of a political party 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. C.S.H.B. 1180 sets forth provisions regarding the making and filing of a disclosure by a judge regarding a contact by a party officer, and requires a judge to issue a written notice at the time of disclosure to inform the officer that the contact is improper and may constitute bribery or corrupt influence. The bill establishes that a political party officer who makes a subsequent contact with the judge on the same matter after receiving notice commits a Class A misdemeanor. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1180 differs from the original bill by requiring a judge, rather than a party officer, to disclose each contact between the judge and a party officer. The substitute requires a judge to issue a written notice at the time of disclosing a contact by a party officer to inform the officer that the contact is improper. The bill establishes that a political party officer who makes a subsequent contact with the judge on the same matter commits an offense.