HBA-RBT H.B. 1955 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1955 By: Madden Elections 3/15/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to Ethics Advisory Opinion 1984-2 the law "allows a person to retain unexpended campaign contributions for only six years after that person is no longer a candidate or office holder." H.B. 1955 adjusts the statute so that it is more clearly in accordance with the ethics opinion. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 254.203(a), Election Code, to prohibit a candidate from retaining political contributions, or interest and other income earned on the contributions for more than six years after the later of the date the person ceases to be an officeholder, or the date of the most recent election in which the person was a candidate, rather than when the person files a final report under this chapter. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Requires a person who is no longer an officeholder or candidate to dispose of unexpended political contributions, assets purchased with political contributions, and interest or other income earned on political contributions in compliance with Section 254.203 (Retention of Contributions), Election Code, as amended by this Act, and requires a person who was last a candidate after September 1, 1993, to do so, regardless of whether the person has filed a final report under Chapter 254 (Political Reporting), Election Code. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.