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.