HBA-DMH H.B. 407 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 407
By: Denny
Elections
7/16/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

State law requires candidates for the state senate or the state house of
representatives who have an opponent and who receive contributions from a
person that in the aggregate exceed $1,000 during the period, beginning the
ninth day before election day and ending at noon on the second day before
election day, to file additional reports.  The same reporting requirements
apply to specific-purpose committees that support or oppose a candidate for
the state senate or the state house of representatives.  This requirement
makes it possible for the public to have access to the campaign finance
information of these candidates and specific-purpose committees in the
final days of a campaign.  Prior to the 77th Legislature, there was no such
requirement for candidates for statewide office or related specific-purpose
committees.  House Bill 407 establishes the same reporting requirements for
opposed candidates for statewide office and for specific-purpose committees
that support or oppose a candidate for statewide office that accept
political contributions from a person that in the aggregate exceed $1,000
during the aforementioned reporting period. 

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 407 amends the Election Code to require a candidate for
statewide office who has an opponent listed on the ballot or a
specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a candidate for
statewide office to file additional reports during the period beginning the
ninth day before election day and ending at noon on the second day before
election day if, during that reporting period, the candidate or committee
accepts political contributions from a person that total in excess of
$1,000. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.