Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1671 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	84R6196 MK-F
2	2	By: Cook H.B. No. 1671
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to defining terms applicable to groups that accept
8	8	political contributions or make political expenditures.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 251, Election Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Section 251.011 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 251.011. PRINCIPAL PURPOSE. (a) "Principal purpose"
13	13	means, as applied to a group under this title, accepting political
14	14	contributions or making political expenditures when either
15	15	activity constitutes an important or main function of the group.
16	16	The principal purpose of a group is determined as provided by this
17	17	section.
18	18	(b) A group may have more than one principal purpose.
19	19	(c) A group has a principal purpose of accepting political
20	20	contributions if the proportion of the total contributions to the
21	21	group that are classified as political contributions exceeds 25
22	22	percent within a calendar year. The intent of a contributor to make
23	23	a political contribution is determined by the contributor's
24	24	reasonable expectations as to how the group will use the
25	25	contribution, including an analysis of:
26	26	(1) the content of public statements made by the group
27	27	regarding fundraising efforts, goals, or support or opposition of
28	28	candidates, officeholders, or measures;
29	29	(2) the content of the group's government filings and
30	30	organizational documents, including the group's mission statement,
31	31	as applicable; and
32	32	(3) any other activities engaged in by the group that
33	33	are unrelated to accepting political contributions or making
34	34	political expenditures.
35	35	(d) A group has a principal purpose of making political
36	36	expenditures, including direct campaign expenditures, if the group
37	37	allocates more than 25 percent of its annual expenses and other
38	38	resources to making political expenditures within a calendar year.
39	39	The amount a group allocates to making political expenditures
40	40	includes:
41	41	(1) the value of the time spent by the group's
42	42	employees or volunteers on activities related to making political
43	43	expenditures; and
44	44	(2) the amount of money and in-kind donations spent on
45	45	political expenditures, including a proportional share of the
46	46	group's administrative expenses attributed to political
47	47	expenditures, such as employee compensation and benefits,
48	48	contractor payments, rental payments, office expenses, and
49	49	computer equipment and services.
50	50	SECTION 2. Section 254.261, Election Code, is amended by
51	51	adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
52	52	(e) For purposes of this section, "acting in concert" means
53	53	two or more persons acting in cooperation with one another, or under
54	54	an express or implied agreement, to pursue a common activity.
55	55	Examples of two or more persons acting in concert include:
56	56	(1) using the same consultants;
57	57	(2) using the same person to purchase media
58	58	advertising, including advertising transmitted through radio,
59	59	television, e-mail, an Internet website, or a social media website;
60	60	(3) sharing mailing, e-mail, or telephone lists;
61	61	(4) sharing research on candidates or measures;
62	62	(5) sharing polling data;
63	63	(6) exchanging drafts or final proofs of political
64	64	advertising; or
65	65	(7) meeting with a candidate, or an agent or staff
66	66	member of a candidate, regarding campaign communications,
67	67	including talking points, campaign themes, campaign communication
68	68	schedules, or campaign events.
69	69	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
70	70	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
71	71	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
72	72	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
73	73	Act takes effect September 1, 2015.