HBA-NRS H.B. 2359 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2359 By: Danburg Elections 4/16/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law prohibits a political committee assisted by a labor organization from making a political contribution if the contribution is funded from dues, fees, or other money collected from the members of the labor organization. Law enforcement associations are considered labor organizations. Therefore, the members of law enforcement associations cannot designate a portion of their dues for political purposes. House Bill 2359 authorizes a political committee assisted by a law enforcement association to use dues, fees, or other money collected from members of the association for political contributions if approved by election. 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 2359 amends the Election Code to authorize a political committee assisted by a law enforcement employee organization to make a political contribution or political expenditure in whole or in part from dues, fees, or other money required as a condition of employment or condition of membership in the organization if a majority of the members of the organization vote by secret ballot to have a specified percentage or amount of the dues, fees, or other money contributed to the political committee. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.