Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB781 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 01/11/2019

                            86R976 ATP-F
 By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 781


 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 253.006 to read as follows:
 Sec. 253.006.  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 253.006, 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, 2019.