Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2283 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 04/19/2021

                    87R19622 SGM-F
 By: King of Parker, Paul, Cain, Patterson, H.B. No. 2283
 Schofield
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2283:
 By:  Clardy C.S.H.B. No. 2283


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the prohibition of certain contributions and donations
 for the administration of elections.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 31, Election Code, is
 amended by adding Section 31.126 to read as follows:
 Sec. 31.126.  PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) The joint
 elections commission, county election commission, and county
 election board may not:
 (1)  accept a contribution of $1,000 or more, including
 the value of in-kind donations, offered by:
 (A)  a private individual;
 (B)  a corporation;
 (C)  a partnership;
 (D)  a trust; or
 (E)  another third party; or
 (2)  use a contribution described by Subdivision (1) to
 perform a function of administering elections.
 (b)  The joint elections commission, county election
 commission, and county election board may accept a contribution of
 less than $1,000 only with written consent from the relevant
 political subdivision.
 (c)  This section does not prohibit the acceptance of:
 (1)  an in-kind contribution of food or beverage for
 election workers during the administration of an election; or
 (2)  any state or federal funds administered or
 distributed by the secretary of state, including funds administered
 and distributed under Section 31.009.
 SECTION 2.  Section 81.032, Local Government Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 81.032.  ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS. (a)
 Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] commissioners court
 may accept a donation of labor or services, gift, grant, donation,
 bequest, or devise of money or other property on behalf of the
 county, including a donation under Chapter 38, Government Code, for
 the purpose of performing a function conferred by law on the county
 or a county officer.
 (b)  The commissioners court may not:
 (1)  accept a donation of $1,000 or more for the purpose
 of administering elections; or
 (2)  use or appropriate a donation described by
 Subsection (a) to perform a function of administering elections.
 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, 2021.