HBA-AMW H.B. 2526 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2526 By: Junell State Affairs 3/22/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law only prohibits a person in the textbook or bond business from giving political contributions to or campaigning for a member of or candidate for the State Board of Education (SBOE). In addition to contracting with these businesses, SBOE also contracts with such entities as open-enrollment charter schools, nonprofit corporations, and commercial banks. Representatives of these entities have contributed to SBOE candidates or members in the past and concerns have been raised regarding the real or perceived impropriety of contractors giving campaign contributions to SBOE members. House Bill 2526 prohibits any person who enters into or proposes to enter into a contract with SBOE, and the person's officers, employees, and subcontractors, from making political contributions to or campaigning for members of or candidates for SBOE. 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 2526 amends the Education Code to provide that a person commits an offense if the person knowingly makes or authorizes a political contribution to or knowingly takes part in the campaign of a person seeking election to the State Board of Education (SBOE) and the person has entered or proposes to enter into a contract with SBOE, is an officer or employee of such a person, or is a subcontractor of such a person for that contract or proposed contract. The bill removes the provision stating that a person interested in selling bonds of any type or a person engaged in manufacturing, shipping, selling, or advertising textbooks or who is otherwise connected with the textbook business commits an offense if that person makes the contribution to or participates in the campaign of a person seeking election to or serving on SBOE. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.