By: Burkett (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 3903
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2017;
May 5, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 15, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 7, Nays 2; May 15, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain political contributions by judicial candidates
and officeholders and certain political committees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 253.1611, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as
follows:
(e) This section does not apply to a political contribution
made to the principal political committee of the state executive
committee or a county executive committee of a political party
[that:
[(1) is made in return for goods or services,
including political advertising or a campaign communication, the
value of which substantially equals or exceeds the amount of the
contribution; or
[(2) is in an amount that is not more than the
candidate's or officeholder's pro rata share of the committee's
normal overhead and administrative or operating costs].
(e-1) This subsection applies only to a political party
required to nominate candidates by primary election. This section
does not apply to a political contribution made to a political
committee affiliated with:
(1) an organization that has been designated as an
auxiliary, coalition, or county chair association of a political
party as provided by political party rule or state executive
committee bylaw; or
(2) a local chapter of an organization described by
Subdivision (1).
SECTION 2. Section 253.1611(f), Election Code, is repealed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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