Bill Text: TX HB1941 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the contents of and public access to personal financial statements filed by public officials and candidates; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-30 - Left pending in committee [HB1941 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1941-Introduced.html

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85R9546 ATP-D
By: Turner H.B. No. 1941

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the contents of and public access to personal financial
statements filed by public officials and candidates; amending
provisions subject to a criminal penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 572.022(a) and (d), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) If an amount in a financial statement is required to be
reported by category, the individual filing the statement shall
report whether the amount is:
(1) less than $200 [$5,000];
(2) at least $200 [$5,000] but less than $1,000
[$10,000];
(3) at least $1,000 [$10,000] but less than $2,500
[$25,000];
(4) at least $2,500 but less than $5,000;
(5) at least $5,000 but less than $15,000;
(6) at least $15,000 but less than $50,000;
(7) at least $50,000 but less than $100,000;
(8) at least $100,000 but less than $1,000,000;
(9) at least $1,000,000 but less than $5,000,000; or
(10) $5,000,000 [(4) $25,000] or more.
(d) For a gift [of cash or a cash equivalent such as a
negotiable instrument or gift certificate] that is reported in
accordance with Section 572.023(b)(7), the individual filing the
statement shall include in the description of the gift a statement
of the value of the gift. If the reported gift is cash or a cash
equivalent such as a negotiable instrument or gift certificate, the
description must include the actual face value of the gift.
SECTION 2. Sections 572.023(a) and (b), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) A financial statement must include an account of the
financial activity of the individual required by this subchapter to
file a financial statement and an account of the financial activity
of the individual's spouse and dependent children if the individual
had actual control over that activity for:
(1) the preceding calendar year; or
(2) both the preceding calendar year and, listed
separately, the year before the preceding calendar year, for
information reported under Subsection (b)(1), (4), or (8).
(b) The account of financial activity consists of:
(1) a list of all sources of occupational income,
identified by employer, or if self-employed, by the nature of the
occupation, including identification of a person or other
organization from which the individual or a business in which the
individual has a substantial interest received a fee as a retainer
for a claim on future services in case of need, as distinguished
from a fee for services on a matter specified at the time of
contracting for or receiving the fee, if professional or
occupational services are not actually performed during the
reporting period equal to or in excess of the amount of the
retainer, and the category of the amount of the fee;
(2) identification by name and the category of the
dollar value of the [number of] shares of stock of any business
entity held or acquired, and if sold, the category of the amount of
net gain or loss realized from the sale;
(3) a list of all bonds, notes, and other commercial
paper held or acquired, and if sold, the category of the amount of
net gain or loss realized from the sale;
(4) identification of each source and the category of
the amount of income in excess of $500 derived from each source from
interest, dividends, royalties, and rents;
(5) identification of each guarantor of a loan and
identification of each person or financial institution to whom a
personal note or notes or lease agreement for a total financial
liability in excess of $1,000 existed at any time during the year,
the date the liability was incurred, and the category of the amount
of the liability;
(6) identification by description of all beneficial
interests in real property and business entities held or acquired,
and if sold, the category of the amount of the net gain or loss
realized from the sale;
(7) identification of a person or other organization
from which the individual or the individual's spouse or dependent
children received a gift of anything of value in excess of $250 and
a description of each gift, except:
(A) a gift received from an individual related to
the individual at any time within the second degree by
consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Subchapter B,
Chapter 573;
(B) a political contribution that was reported as
required by Chapter 254, Election Code; and
(C) an expenditure required to be reported by a
person required to be registered under Chapter 305;
(8) identification of the source and the category of
the amount of all income received as beneficiary of a trust, other
than a blind trust that complies with Subsection (c), and
identification of each trust asset, if known to the beneficiary,
from which income was received by the beneficiary in excess of $500;
(9) identification by description and the category of
the amount of all assets and liabilities of a corporation, firm,
partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership,
professional corporation, professional association, joint venture,
or other business association in which 50 percent or more of the
outstanding ownership was held, acquired, or sold;
(10) a list of all boards of directors of which the
individual is a member and executive positions that the individual
holds in corporations, firms, partnerships, limited partnerships,
limited liability partnerships, professional corporations,
professional associations, joint ventures, or other business
associations or proprietorships, stating the name of each
corporation, firm, partnership, limited partnership, limited
liability partnership, professional corporation, professional
association, joint venture, or other business association or
proprietorship and the position held;
(11) identification of any person providing
transportation, meals, or lodging expenses permitted under Section
36.07(b), Penal Code, and the amount of those expenses, other than
expenditures required to be reported under Chapter 305;
(12) any corporation, firm, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability partnership, professional
corporation, professional association, joint venture, or other
business association, excluding a publicly held corporation, in
which both the individual and a person registered under Chapter 305
have an interest;
(13) identification by name and the category of the
number of shares of any mutual fund held or acquired, and if sold,
the category of the amount of net gain or loss realized from the
sale; and
(14) identification of each blind trust that complies
with Subsection (c), including:
(A) the category of the fair market value of the
trust;
(B) the date the trust was created;
(C) the name and address of the trustee; and
(D) a statement signed by the trustee, under
penalty of perjury, stating that:
(i) the trustee has not revealed any
information to the individual, except information that may be
disclosed under Subdivision (8); and
(ii) to the best of the trustee's knowledge,
the trust complies with this section.
SECTION 3. Section 572.032, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
follows:
(a) Financial statements filed under this subchapter are
public records. The commission shall maintain the statements in
separate alphabetical files and in a manner that is accessible to
the public during regular office hours and make the statements
available to the public on the commission's website not later than
the 15th day after the date the statement is required to be filed or
is actually filed, whichever is later.
(d) The commission is not required to continue to make
available on its website a financial statement that may be
destroyed under Subsection (c). The commission may not make
available on its website a financial statement that the commission
is required to destroy under Subsection (c).
SECTION 4. Sections 572.022(b) and 572.032(b), Government
Code, are repealed.
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
572.022 and 572.023, Government Code, apply only to a financial
statement filed under Subchapter B, Chapter 572, Government Code,
on or after January 1, 2019. A financial statement filed before
January 1, 2019, is governed by the law in effect on the date of
filing, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.