By: Davis of Harris, et al. H.B. No. 2471
(Senate Sponsor - Buckingham)
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;
May 12, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 19, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibiting political contributions and political
expenditures made by certain persons with public funds; creating a
criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 253, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 253.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 253.007. UNLAWFUL USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR
CONTRIBUTIONS OR EXPENDITURES. (a) An officer or employee of a
political subdivision may not spend or authorize the spending of
public funds to make a political contribution or a political
expenditure.
(b) An officer or employee of a political subdivision may
not directly or indirectly employ a person to use public funds to
make an unlawful political contribution or political expenditure.
(c) A person who violates Subsection (a) or (b) commits an
offense. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. Section 253.007, Election Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to a political contribution or a political
expenditure made on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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