81R8715 ATP-D
By: Flynn H.B. No. 3198
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring candidates for certain offices to pay a
filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee to appear on
the ballot for the general election for state and county officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 141, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 141.040 to read as follows:
Sec. 141.040. FILING FEE OR PETITION FOR CERTAIN OFFICES
ELECTED AT GENERAL ELECTION FOR STATE AND COUNTY OFFICERS. (a)
This section applies only to the following offices:
(1) state representative;
(2) state senator; and
(3) an office of the state government elected
statewide.
(b) In addition to any other requirements, to be eligible to
be placed on the ballot for the general election for state and
county officers, a candidate who has not paid a filing fee or
submitted a petition in lieu of a filing fee as a candidate in a
primary election or as a write-in candidate must:
(1) pay a filing fee to the secretary of state; or
(2) submit to the secretary of state a petition in lieu
of a filing fee that satisfies the requirements prescribed by
Subsection (e) and Section 141.062.
(c) The amount of the filing fee is $500 for a candidate for
state representative or state senator and $1,000 for a candidate
for an office of state government elected statewide.
(d) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in
a special account in the general revenue fund that may be
appropriated only to the secretary of state to help defray costs
involved with the holding of the general election for state and
county officers.
(e) The minimum number of signatures that must appear on the
petition authorized by Subsection (b) is:
(1) 500, for the office of state senator or state
representative; or
(2) 5,000, for a statewide office.
(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.