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.