BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1152 By: Hinojosa, Zaffirini State Affairs 6/18/2009 Enrolled AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT S.B. 1, 72nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, made the act of offering or accepting a political contribution in the Texas Capitol illegal. Under current law, political contributions can be legally offered to sitting judges in Texas courthouses. The possibility that a sitting judge can accept a contribution in a courthouse reflects poorly on the integrity of the Texas judicial process. S.B. 1152 prohibits a political contribution from being offered or accepted in Texas courthouses. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 253.039, Election Code, by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c), and adding Subsection (h), as follows: (a) Prohibits a person from knowingly making or authorizing a political contribution while in a courthouse to certain persons or entities. (b) Makes a conforming change. (c) Makes a conforming change. (h) Defines "courthouse." SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1152
By: Hinojosa, Zaffirini
State Affairs
6/18/2009
Enrolled
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 1, 72nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, made the act of offering or accepting a political contribution in the Texas Capitol illegal. Under current law, political contributions can be legally offered to sitting judges in Texas courthouses. The possibility that a sitting judge can accept a contribution in a courthouse reflects poorly on the integrity of the Texas judicial process.
S.B. 1152 prohibits a political contribution from being offered or accepted in Texas courthouses.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 253.039, Election Code, by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c), and adding Subsection (h), as follows:
(a) Prohibits a person from knowingly making or authorizing a political contribution while in a courthouse to certain persons or entities.
(b) Makes a conforming change.
(c) Makes a conforming change.
(h) Defines "courthouse."
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.