HBA-CMT, JEK H.B. 1286 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1286 By: Thompson Elections 2/25/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current federal law, a candidate for federal office is prohibited from converting money in a state or local campaign account for use in a federal campaign. However, federal officeholders may use money from federal campaign accounts in a campaign for state office. House Bill 1286 prohibits the use of funds raised for federal campaign accounts to be used in a campaign for state office. 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 1286 amends the Election Code to prohibit a person from knowingly using or authorizing funds that were accepted by or on behalf of the person for a campaign for federal office to make a political contribution or expenditure in connection with the person's campaign for a state government office. The bill specifies that a violation of this provision is a Class A misdemeanor. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.