By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1152
(In the Senate - Filed February 26, 2009; March 13, 2009, read
first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
April 7, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9,
Nays 0; April 7, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the making or acceptance of political contributions in
a courthouse; providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 253.039, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (h) to
read as follows:
(a) A person may not knowingly make or authorize a political
contribution while in the Capitol or a courthouse to:
(1) a candidate or officeholder;
(2) a political committee; or
(3) a person acting on behalf of a candidate,
officeholder, or political committee.
(b) A candidate, officeholder, or political committee or a
person acting on behalf of a candidate, officeholder, or political
committee may not knowingly accept a political contribution, and
shall refuse a political contribution that is received, in the
Capitol or a courthouse.
(c) This section does not prohibit contributions made in the
Capitol or a courthouse through the United States postal service or
a common or contract carrier.
(h) In this section, "courthouse" means any building owned
or occupied by the state, a county, or a municipality, including a
building or office leased to the state, a county, or a municipality,
in which a justice or judge sits to conduct court proceedings.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
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