Rules
Adopted

ADOPTED RULES

At its August 21, 2014, meeting, the Texas Ethics Commission voted to adopt the following rules.

Timely Reports and Complete Reports
(effective 9-14-2014)
Text of Adopted Rule

Timeliness of Action by Electronic Filing
(effective 9-14-2014)
Text of Adopted Rule

Reporting the Forgiveness of a Loan or Settlement of a Debt
(effective 9-14-2014)
Text of Adopted Rule

Timely Reports and Complete Reports
Text of Adopted Rule

The adopted new language is indicated by underlined text.

Chapter 18. GENERAL RULES CONCERNING REPORTS

§ 18.7. Timely Reports and Complete Reports

(a) A report is timely if it is complete and is filed by the applicable deadline using the reporting method required by law.

(b) The deadline for any report filed electronically with the commission is midnight Central Time Zone on the last day for filing the report under the law requiring the filing of the report.

(c) A report is late if it is:

(1) incomplete;

(2) not filed by the applicable deadline; or

(3) not filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic transfer and the filer is required by law to file using one of these methods.

Timeliness of Action by Electronic Filing
Text of Adopted Rule

The adopted new language is indicated by underlined text.

Chapter 20. REPORTING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

Subchapter A. General Rules

§ 20.20. Timeliness of Action by Electronic Filing

The filing deadline for any report filed electronically with the commission is midnight Central Time Zone on the last day for filing the report under the law requiring the filing of the report.

Reporting the Forgiveness of a Loan or Settlement of a Debt

The adopted new language is indicated by underlined text.

Chapter 20. REPORTING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

Subchapter B. GENERAL REPORTING RULES

§ 20.64. Reporting the Forgiveness of a Loan or Settlement of a Debt

(a) The forgiveness of a loan to a candidate, officeholder, or political committee is a reportable in-kind political contribution unless the loan does not constitute a contribution under Section 251.001(2) of the Election Code, and the forgiveness of the loan was made in the due course of business.

(b) The settlement of a debt owed by a candidate, officeholder, or political committee is a reportable in-kind political contribution unless the creditor is a commercial vendor that has treated the settlement in a commercially reasonable manner that reflects the usual and normal practice of the industry, and is typical of the terms the commercial vendor offers to political and non-political persons alike.