HBA-RBT H.B. 1421 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1421 By: Madden Elections 3/11/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the limit on certain political contributions and expenditures over $50 must be reported. This amount may require a degree of work by the campaign's treasurer which is disproportionate to the degree of influence the amount of the contribution represents. H.B. 1421 allows contributions and expenditures under $100 to be exempt from individual reporting and disclosure. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 253.157(a), Election Code, as amended by Chapters 479 and 552, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to prohibit a judicial candidate, officeholder or a specific-purpose committee from accepting a political contribution in excess of $100, rather than $50, under specified circumstances. SECTION 2. Amends Section 254.031(a), Election Code, to provide that the amount of contributions, loans, and expenditures of over $100, rather than $50, must be included in a report filed under this chapter. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 254.0311(b), Election Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 4. Amends Section 254.0611(a), Election Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 5. Amends Section 254.151, Election Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 6. Provides that the text of Section 253.157(a), Election Code, as set out in Section 1 of this Act, gives effect to changes made by Chapters 479 and 552, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997. Provides that this Act prevails over any other Act of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, relating to nonsubstantive additions and corrections in enacted codes. SECTION 7. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 8. Emergency clause.