| 1 | 1 | | 88R659 JG-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Romero, Jr. H.B. No. 2751 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the use of political contributions by a candidate or |
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| 8 | 8 | | officeholder for child-care expenses. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 253.035(d), Election Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (d) In this section, "personal use" means a use that |
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| 13 | 13 | | primarily furthers individual or family purposes not connected with |
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| 14 | 14 | | the performance of duties or activities as a candidate for or holder |
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| 15 | 15 | | of a public office. The term does not include: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) payments made to defray ordinary and necessary |
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| 17 | 17 | | expenses incurred in connection with activities as a candidate or |
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| 18 | 18 | | in connection with the performance of duties or activities as a |
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| 19 | 19 | | public officeholder, including payment of: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (A) rent, utility, and other reasonable housing |
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| 21 | 21 | | or household expenses incurred in maintaining a residence in Travis |
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| 22 | 22 | | County by members of the legislature who do not ordinarily reside in |
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| 23 | 23 | | Travis County, but excluding payments prohibited under Section |
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| 24 | 24 | | 253.038; or |
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| 25 | 25 | | (B) child-care expenses for a child of the |
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| 26 | 26 | | candidate or officeholder made in accordance with Section 253.0352; |
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| 27 | 27 | | or |
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| 28 | 28 | | (2) payments of federal income taxes due on interest |
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| 29 | 29 | | and other income earned on political contributions. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 253, Election Code, is |
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| 31 | 31 | | amended by adding Section 253.0352 to read as follows: |
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| 32 | 32 | | Sec. 253.0352. CHILD-CARE EXPENSES. A candidate or an |
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| 33 | 33 | | officeholder may use political contributions to pay for child-care |
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| 34 | 34 | | expenses incurred for a child of the candidate or officeholder, |
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| 35 | 35 | | including payment to a family member other than the child's parent, |
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| 36 | 36 | | legal guardian, or conservator. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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| 38 | 38 | | payment of a child-care expense incurred by a candidate or |
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| 39 | 39 | | officeholder on or after the effective date of this Act. The |
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| 40 | 40 | | payment of a child-care expense incurred by a candidate or |
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| 41 | 41 | | officeholder before the effective date of this Act is governed by |
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| 42 | 42 | | the law in effect on the date the payment was made, and the former |
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| 43 | 43 | | law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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