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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption for certain political committees from the |
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imposition of civil penalties for violating requirements for |
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reporting political contributions and expenditures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 254, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 254.164 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 254.164. CERTAIN COMMITTEES EXEMPT FROM CIVIL |
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PENALTIES. The commission may not impose a civil penalty on a |
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general-purpose committee for a violation of this chapter if the |
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report filed by the committee that is the subject of the violation |
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discloses that the committee did not accept political contributions |
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totaling $3,000 or more, accept political contributions from a |
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single person totaling $1,000 or more, or make or authorize |
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political expenditures totaling $3,000 or more during: |
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(1) the reporting period covered by the report that is |
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the subject of the violation; or |
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(2) either of the two reporting periods preceding the |
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reporting period described by Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 31, 2008, the Texas |
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Ethics Commission shall submit a report to the legislature on the |
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impacts and effects of Section 254.164, Election Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 254.164, Election Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a violation of Chapter 254, Election Code, |
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relating to a report required to be filed under that chapter on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. A violation of Chapter 254, |
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Election Code, relating to a report required to be filed under that |
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chapter before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect when the violation occurred, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 89 was passed by the House on May 10, |
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2007, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 3, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 89 was passed by the Senate on May 23, |
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2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |