HBA-RBT H.B. 2221 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2221
By: Danburg
Elections
3/15/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Contributions made to a candidate may or may not be used for the sole
purpose of running that candidate's political campaign.  In some cases, a
contribution may be passed on to another candidate or political action
committee without the original donor ever knowing about it.  H.B. 2221
requires a candidate to provide the name and address of a general-purpose
committee or candidate to which the candidate is contributing in the report
already required of the candidate.  This bill further requires a candidate
to adhere to statutory notice provisions regarding these types of
donations, with certain exceptions. 

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 252.0032, Election Code, to include the full
name and address of each general-purpose committee or candidate to whom the
candidate intends to make political contributions in the additional
required information a candidate must report.  Requires the candidate to
promptly file an amended appointment with the authority with whom the
appointment is required to be filed if any of the information required to
be included changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, by adding
Section 253.040, as follows: 

Sec.  253.040.  LIMITATION ON CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS BY CANDIDATES.
Prohibits a candidate from knowingly making or authorizing a political
contribution to a general-purpose committee or to another candidate unless
the candidate's campaign treasurer appointment listing the committee or the
other candidate has been filed within 30 days. Provides that this section
does not apply to a political contribution consisting of the purchase of a
ticket to a fundraising dinner or similar event if the cost of the ticket
does not exceed the value received by the person attending the dinner or
event.  Provides that a violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.