84R1068 ATP-D
	By: Geren	H.B. No. 1532

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to quarterly reporting of political contributions and
	expenditures by certain candidates, officeholders, and political
	committees.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 252.0011(d), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(d)  Subsection (c) applies to a person who is the campaign
	treasurer of a general-purpose committee regardless of whether the
	committee files quarterly or files monthly reports under Section
	254.155. For purposes of this subsection, political contributions
	accepted and political expenditures made during each month of a
	[monthly] reporting period are aggregated with political
	contributions accepted and political expenditures made in each
	other month of the [monthly] reporting period that corresponds to
	the semiannual reporting period that contains those months.
	SECTION 2.  Section 254.031, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  For a person who files quarterly reports under this
	chapter, the threshold amounts provided by Subsection (a) shall be
	divided by two. The commission shall adopt rules to implement this
	subsection.
	SECTION 3.  Section 254.0405, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 254.0405.  AMENDMENT OF FILED REPORT. (a)  A person
	who files a quarterly or semiannual report under this chapter may
	amend the report.
	(b)  A quarterly or semiannual report that is amended before
	the eighth day after the date the original report was filed is
	considered to have been filed on the date on which the original
	report was filed.
	(c)  A quarterly or semiannual report that is amended on or
	after the eighth day after the original report was filed is
	considered to have been filed on the date on which the original
	report was filed if:
	(1)  the amendment is made before any complaint is
	filed with regard to the subject of the amendment; and
	(2)  the original report was made in good faith and
	without an intent to mislead or to misrepresent the information
	contained in the report.
	SECTION 4.  Section 254.041(d), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(d)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection
	(a)(3) that:
	(1)  the information was required to be included in a
	quarterly or semiannual report; and
	(2)  the person amended the report within the time
	prescribed by Section 254.0405(b) or under the circumstances
	described by Section 254.0405(c).
	SECTION 5.  The heading to Section 254.063, Election Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.063.  SEMIANNUAL REPORTING SCHEDULE FOR CERTAIN
	CANDIDATES [CANDIDATE].
	SECTION 6.  Section 254.063(a), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Section 254.0631, a [A] candidate
	shall file two reports for each year as provided by this section.
	SECTION 7.  Subchapter C, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 254.0631 to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.0631.  QUARTERLY REPORTING SCHEDULE FOR CANDIDATE
	FOR OFFICE OF STATE GOVERNMENT. (a) A candidate for a statewide
	office or for the office of state representative or state senator
	shall file four reports for each year as provided by this section.
	(b)  The first report shall be filed not later than April 15.
	The report covers the period beginning January 1, the day the
	candidate's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through March
	31.
	(c)  The second report shall be filed not later than July 15.
	The report covers the period beginning April 1, the day the
	candidate's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through June
	30.
	(d)  The third report shall be filed not later than October
	15. The report covers the period beginning July 1, the day the
	candidate's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through
	September 30.
	(e)  The fourth report shall be filed not later than January
	15. The report covers the period beginning October 1, the day the
	candidate's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through
	December 31.
	SECTION 8.  The heading to Section 254.093, Election Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.093.  SEMIANNUAL REPORTING SCHEDULE FOR CERTAIN
	OFFICEHOLDERS [OFFICEHOLDER].
	SECTION 9.  Section 254.093(a), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Section 254.0931, an [An]
	officeholder shall file two reports for each year as provided by
	this section.
	SECTION 10.  Subchapter D, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 254.0931 to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.0931.  QUARTERLY REPORTING SCHEDULE FOR HOLDER OF
	OFFICE OF STATE GOVERNMENT. (a) A holder of a statewide office, a
	state representative, or a state senator shall file four reports
	for each year as provided by this section.
	(b)  The first report shall be filed not later than April 15.
	The report covers the period beginning January 1, the day the
	officeholder takes office, or the first day after the period
	covered by the last report required to be filed under this
	subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through March 31.
	(c)  The second report shall be filed not later than July 15.
	The report covers the period beginning April 1, the day the
	officeholder takes office, or the first day after the period
	covered by the last report required to be filed under this
	subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through June 30.
	(d)  The third report shall be filed not later than October
	15. The report covers the period beginning July 1, the day the
	officeholder takes office, or the first day after the period
	covered by the last report required to be filed under this
	subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through September 30.
	(e)  The fourth report shall be filed not later than January
	15. The report covers the period beginning October 1, the day the
	officeholder takes office, or the first day after the period
	covered by the last report required to be filed under this
	subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through December 31.
	SECTION 11.  The heading to Section 254.123, Election Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.123.  SEMIANNUAL REPORTING SCHEDULE FOR CERTAIN
	COMMITTEES [COMMITTEE].
	SECTION 12.  Section 254.123(a), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Section 254.1231, the [The]
	campaign treasurer of a specific-purpose committee shall file two
	reports for each year as provided by this section.
	SECTION 13.  Subchapter E, Chapter 254, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 254.1231 to read as follows:
	Sec. 254.1231.  QUARTERLY REPORTING SCHEDULE FOR COMMITTEES
	WITH PURPOSE RELATED TO OFFICE OF STATE GOVERNMENT. (a) A
	specific-purpose committee supporting or opposing a candidate for a
	statewide office or the office of state representative or state
	senator, or assisting a holder of a statewide office, a state
	representative, or a state senator shall file four reports for each
	year as provided by this section.
	(b)  The first report shall be filed not later than April 15.
	The report covers the period beginning January 1, the day the
	committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through March
	31.
	(c)  The second report shall be filed not later than July 15.
	The report covers the period beginning April 1, the day the
	committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through June
	30.
	(d)  The third report shall be filed not later than October
	15. The report covers the period beginning July 1, the day the
	committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through
	September 30.
	(e)  The fourth report shall be filed not later than January
	15. The report covers the period beginning October 1, the day the
	committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through
	December 31.
	SECTION 14.  Section 254.153, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 254.153.  QUARTERLY [SEMIANNUAL] REPORTING SCHEDULE
	FOR COMMITTEE. (a) The campaign treasurer of a general-purpose
	committee shall file four [two] reports for each year as provided by
	this section.
	(b)  The first report shall be filed not later than April
	[July] 15. The report covers the period beginning January 1, the
	day the committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the
	first day after the period covered by the last report required to be
	filed under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through
	March 31 [June 30].
	(c)  The second report shall be filed not later than July
	[January] 15. The report covers the period beginning April [July]
	1, the day the committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed,
	or the first day after the period covered by the last report
	required to be filed under this subchapter, as applicable, and
	continuing through June 30 [December 31].
	(d)  The third report shall be filed not later than October
	15. The report covers the period beginning July 1, the day the
	committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through
	September 30.
	(e)  The fourth report shall be filed not later than January
	15. The report covers the period beginning October 1, the day the
	committee's campaign treasurer appointment is filed, or the first
	day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed
	under this subchapter, as applicable, and continuing through
	December 31.
	SECTION 15.  Section 254.184(b), Election Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  A candidate or committee filing under this subchapter is
	not required to file any reports of political contributions and
	political expenditures other than the required quarterly or
	semiannual reports [required to be filed not later than July 15 and
	January 15].
	SECTION 16.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.