82R1599 ATP-F
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 59
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of assistance by the Texas Ethics
Commission in the reporting of political contributions and
expenditures made in connection with offices of and measures
proposed by local governmental entities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 571, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. REPORTING OF POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND
EXPENDITURES RELATED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND OFFICERS
Sec. 571.201. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to
further the objective of fully disclosing information related to
political contributions and expenditures made in connection with
offices of and measures proposed by local governmental entities by
allowing a local governmental entity or a candidate for or holder of
an office of a local governmental entity or a related
specific-purpose committee to use the commission's software and
other commission resources to file reports of political
contributions and expenditures required by Title 15, Election Code.
Sec. 571.202. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Local governmental entity" and "local government
officer" have the meanings assigned by Section 176.001, Local
Government Code.
(2) "Measure," "political contribution," "political
expenditure," and "specific-purpose committee" have the meanings
assigned by Section 251.001, Election Code.
Sec. 571.203. USE OF COMMISSION SOFTWARE AND RESOURCES.
(a) To fulfill the purpose of this subchapter and to facilitate
filing of reports of political contributions and expenditures
required by Title 15, Election Code, the commission may allow the
use of commission software and resources by:
(1) a local governmental entity;
(2) a local government officer;
(3) a candidate for an office of a local governmental
entity; or
(4) a specific-purpose committee for supporting or
opposing a candidate for an office of a local governmental entity,
assisting a local government officer, or supporting or opposing a
measure proposed by a local governmental entity.
(b) The commission may provide assistance to a local
governmental entity, a local government officer, a candidate for an
office of a local governmental entity, or a specific-purpose
committee by:
(1) developing software to facilitate electronic
filing of reports of political contributions and expenditures;
(2) maintaining reports of political contributions
and expenditures for electronic publishing and filing; and
(3) providing public access through the commission's
Internet website to electronic reports of political contributions
and expenditures filed by:
(A) a local governmental entity;
(B) a local government officer;
(C) a candidate for an office of a local
governmental entity; or
(D) a specific-purpose committee for supporting
or opposing a candidate for an office of a local governmental
entity, assisting a local government officer, or supporting or
opposing a measure proposed by a local governmental entity.
(c) The commission may enter into an intergovernmental
contract with a local governmental entity to provide the assistance
described by Subsection (b).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.