HBA-LCA H.B. 2003 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2003
By: Greenberg
Elections
3/16/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law allows elected state and county officers and legislative
caucuses to receive political contributions up to 30 days before a regular
legislative session convenes.  As a result, many candidates receive
contributions made after the general election in November, but before the
current December deadline. 

H.B. 2003 prohibits political contributions beginning the tenth day prior
to the general election for state and county officers. 

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 253.034(a), Election Code, to extend the length
of time a person may not make a political contribution to the tenth day
before the date of the general election for state and county officers
preceding the date a regular legislative session convenes, rather than 30
days before the session convenes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 253.0341(a), Election Code,  to extend the
length of time a person not a member of a legislative caucus may not make a
contribution to the caucus to the tenth day before the date of the general
election for state and county officers preceding the date a regular
legislative session convenes, rather than 30 days before the session
convenes. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.