By: Farias (Senate Sponsor - Van de Putte) H.B. No. 195
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 15, 2013;
April 17, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 17, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0;
May 17, 2013, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 195 By: Van de Putte
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the availability on the Internet of reports of
political expenditures and contributions filed in connection with
certain county and municipal offices.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 254.0401, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 254.0401. AVAILABILITY OF [ELECTRONIC] REPORTS ON
INTERNET.
SECTION 2. Section 254.0401, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (a-1) and (c) and amending Subsection (f) to
read as follows:
(a-1) The county clerk of a county with a population of
800,000 or more shall make a report filed with the clerk by a
candidate, officeholder, or specific-purpose committee under this
subchapter in connection with a county office or the office of
county commissioner available to the public on the county's
Internet website not later than the fifth business day after the
date the report is received.
(c) The clerk of a municipality with a population of 500,000
or more shall make a report filed with the clerk by a candidate,
officeholder, or specific-purpose committee under this subchapter
in connection with the office of mayor or member of the
municipality's governing body available to the public on the
municipality's Internet website not later than the fifth business
day after the date the report is received.
(f) The commission shall clearly state on the Internet
website on which reports are provided [under Subsection (b)] that
reports filed by an independent candidate, a third-party candidate,
or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing an
independent or third-party candidate will not be available if the
candidate or committee has not yet filed a report.
SECTION 3. (a) Section 254.0401(b), Election Code, is
repealed.
(b) Effective January 1, 2014, Section 176.009(b), Local
Government Code, is repealed.
SECTION 4. Section 254.0401, Election Code, as amended by
this Act, and Section 176.009, Local Government Code, as amended by
this Act, apply only to a report of political contributions and
expenditures that is required to be filed under Chapter 254,
Election Code, on or after January 1, 2014.
SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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