84R2129 ADM-D By: Springer H.B. No. 464 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to requiring candidates to pay a filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee to appear on the ballot for the general election for state and county officers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 141, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 141.041 to read as follows: Sec. 141.041. FILING FEE OR PETITION TO APPEAR ON BALLOT FOR GENERAL ELECTION FOR STATE AND COUNTY OFFICERS. (a) In addition to any other requirements, to be eligible to be placed on the ballot for the general election for state and county officers, a candidate who is nominated by convention under Chapter 181 or 182 must: (1) pay a filing fee to the secretary of state for a statewide or district office or the county judge for a county or precinct office; or (2) submit to the secretary of state for a statewide or district office or the county judge for a county or precinct office a petition in lieu of a filing fee that satisfies the requirements prescribed by Subsection (e) and Section 141.062. (b) The amount of the filing fee is the amount prescribed by Section 172.024 for a candidate for nomination for the same office in a general primary election. (c) A filing fee received by the secretary of state shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund. (d) A filing fee received by the county judge shall be deposited in the county treasury to the credit of the county general fund. (e) The minimum number of signatures that must appear on the petition authorized by Subsection (a) is the number prescribed by Section 172.025 to appear on a petition of a candidate for nomination for the same office in a general primary election. (f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.