Bill Text: TX HB1405 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to the availability on the Internet of reports of political contributions or expenditures filed in connection with certain offices.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-28 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB1405 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB1405-Comm_Sub.html

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84R24731 ATP-D
By: Leach H.B. No. 1405
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1405:
By: Elkins C.S.H.B. No. 1405

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the availability on the Internet of reports of
political contributions or expenditures filed in connection with
certain offices.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 254.0401, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a-1) and (c) and adding Subsections (e-1) and
(g) to read as follows:
(a-1) The county clerk of a county with a population of
50,000 [800,000] or more that maintains an Internet website shall
make a report filed with the clerk by a candidate, officeholder, or
specific-purpose committee under this subchapter in connection
with a county office or the office of county commissioner available
to the public on the county's Internet website not later than the
fifth business day after the date the report is received.
(c) The clerk of a municipality with a population of 50,000
[500,000] or more that maintains an Internet website shall make a
report filed with the clerk by a candidate, officeholder, or
specific-purpose committee under this subchapter in connection
with the office of mayor or member of the municipality's governing
body available to the public on the municipality's Internet website
not later than the fifth business day after the date the report is
received.
(e-1) Before making a report available on the Internet as
required by Subsection (a-1) or (c), the authority with whom the
report is filed may remove each portion, other than city, state, and
zip code, of the address of a person listed as having made a
political contribution to the person filing the report. The address
information removed must remain available on the report maintained
in the authority's office.
(g) A report made available on an Internet website under
this section must be accessible on that website until the fifth
anniversary of the date the report is first made available.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 254.04011, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 254.04011. AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS OF MEMBER OF
GOVERNING BODY OF SCHOOL OR PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT
[TRUSTEES] ON INTERNET.
SECTION 3. Section 254.04011, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding Subsections (b-1)
and (f) to read as follows:
(a) This section applies only to a school or public junior
college district that maintains an Internet website and has [:
[(1) located wholly or partly in a municipality with a
population of more than 500,000; and
[(2) with] a student enrollment of more than 15,000.
(b-1) A report filed under this chapter by a member of the
governing body of a public junior college district, a candidate for
membership on the governing body of a public junior college
district, or a specific-purpose committee for supporting,
opposing, or assisting a candidate or member of a governing body of
a public junior college district must be posted on the Internet
website of the district.
(c) A report to which Subsection (b) or (b-1) applies must
be available to the public on the Internet website not later than
the fifth business day after the date the report is filed with the
school district.
(e) Before making a report available on the Internet under
this section, the school district or public junior college district
may remove each portion, other than city, state, and zip code, of
the address of a person listed as having made a political
contribution to the person filing the report. If the address
information is removed as permitted by this subsection, the
information must remain available on the report maintained in the
[school] district's office.
(f) A report made available on an Internet website under
this section must be accessible on that website until the fifth
anniversary of the date the report is first made available.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
254.0401 and 254.04011, Election Code, apply only to a report of
political contributions and expenditures that is required to be
filed under Chapter 254, Election Code, on or after the effective
date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.