81R1398 CAE-D
By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 321
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the filing and posting on the Internet of reports of
political contributions and expenditures required in connection
with the office of member of the board of trustees of a school
district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 254.04011 to read as follows:
Sec. 254.04011. AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES
ON INTERNET. (a) A report filed under this chapter by a member of
the board of trustees of a school district, a candidate for
membership on the board of trustees of a school district, or a
specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting
a candidate or member of a board of trustees of a school district
must be posted on the Internet website of:
(1) the school district; and
(2) the commission.
(b) A report to which Subsection (a) applies must be
available to the public on the Internet website not later than the
fifth business day after the date the report is filed with the
school district or commission.
(c) The access allowed by this section to reports is in
addition to the public's access to the information through other
electronic or print distribution of the information.
(d) Before making a report available on the Internet under
this section, the school district or commission shall remove each
portion, other than city, state, and zip code, of the address of a
person listed as having made a political contribution to the person
filing the report. The address information removed must remain
available on the report maintained in the school district's or
commission's office but may not be available electronically at that
office.
SECTION 2. Section 254.066, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A report required to be filed under this subchapter by a
candidate for membership on the board of trustees of a school
district shall also be filed with the commission.
SECTION 3. Section 254.097, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A report required to be filed under this subchapter by a
member of the board of trustees of a school district shall also be
filed with the commission.
SECTION 4. Section 254.130, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A report required to be filed under this subchapter by a
specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting
a candidate or member of a board of trustees of a school district
shall also be filed with the commission.
SECTION 5. (a) The change in law made by this Act by adding
Section 254.04011, Election Code, applies only to the posting of a
report of political contributions and expenditures that is required
to be filed on or after January 1, 2010.
(b) Sections 254.066(c), 254.097(c), and 254.130(c),
Election Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a report under
Chapter 254, Election Code, that is required to be filed on or after
January 1, 2010. A report under Chapter 254, Election Code, that is
required to be filed before January 1, 2010, is governed by the law
in effect on the date the report is required to be filed, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.