Rules

PROPOSED RULES

At its April 3, 2014, meeting, the Texas Ethics Commission voted to propose the following rules. The Ethics Commission invites public comment on the rules. A written statement should be emailed to public_comment@ethics.state.tx.us, or mailed or delivered to Natalia Luna Ashley, Texas Ethics Commission, P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, or by facsimile (FAX) to (512) 463-5777. A person who wants to offer spoken comments to the commission concerning the proposed rules may do so at any commission meeting during the public comment period at a commission meeting when the commission considers the proposed rule. Information concerning the time and location of commission meetings is available at http://www.ethics.state.tx./meetings/ or by telephoning (512) 463-5800.

Reporting Schedule for a Candidate for State Chair
Text of Proposed Rule

Disclosure of Financial Activity
Text of Proposed Rule

Reporting Schedule for a Candidate for State Chair
Text of Proposed Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

Chapter 20. REPORTING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
Subchapter J. REPORTS BY A CANDIDATE FOR STATE OR COUNTY PARTY CHAIR

§ 20.577. Reporting Schedule for a Candidate for State Chair

(a) A candidate for state chair of a political party is required to file only the reports listed in this section and is not required to file any other reports required by candidates for public office under Subchapter C of this chapter (relating to Reporting Requirements for a Candidate).

(b) A candidate for state chair of a political party is required to file semiannual reports as provided by this subsection.

(1) One semiannual report is due no earlier than July 1 and no later than July 15.

(A) The period covered by a report under this paragraph begins on the later of the following dates, as applicable:

(i) January 1;

(ii) the first day after the period covered by the last report required by this subchapter; or

(iii) the day the state chair's campaign treasurer appointment was filed, if this is the first report filed under this subchapter.

(B) The period covered by the report under this paragraph ends on June 30.

(2) One semiannual report is due no earlier than January 1 and no later than January 15. The period covered by a report under this paragraph begins on the later of the following dates, as applicable:

(A) July 1;

(B) the first day after the period covered by the last report required by this subchapter; or

(C) the day the state chair’s campaign treasurer appointment was filed, if this is the first report filed under this subchapter.

(c) A candidate for state chair of a political party shall also file the following reports.

(1) A candidate for state chair of a political party shall file a report not earlier than the 39th day before the convening of the state convention and not later than the 30th day before the convening of the state convention. The report shall cover the period that begins on either the day the candidate filed a campaign treasurer appointment with the commission or the first day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed, as applicable, and ends on the 40th day before the convening.

(2) A candidate for state chair of a political party shall file a report not earlier than the ninth day before the convening of the state convention and not later than the eighth day before the convening of the state convention. The report must cover the period that begins on either the day the candidate filed a campaign treasurer appointment with the commission or the first day after the period covered by the last report required to be filed, as applicable, and ends on the 10th day before the convening.

(d) A candidate for state chair of a political party who expects no further reportable activity in connection with his or her candidacy may file a final report at any time in accordance with § 20.229 of this title (relating to Final Report) and § 20.231 of this title (relating to Contents of Final Report).

(e) A former candidate for state chair of a political party who retains unexpended political contributions, unexpended interest or other income from political contributions, or assets purchased with political contributions at the time of filing a final report is subject to the requirements of §§ 20.233, 20.235, 20.237, 20.239, 20.241, and 20.243 of this title (relating to Reporting Requirements for a Candidate).

(f) Except as provided by Section 254.036(c), Election Code, each report filed with the commission under this section must be filed by computer diskette, modem, or other means of electronic transfer, using computer software provided by the commission or computer software that meets commission specifications for a standard file format.

Disclosure of Financial Activity
Text of Proposed Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

Chapter 40. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS
Subchapter B. GENERAL REPORTING RULES

§ 40.2. Disclosure of Financial Activity

For purposes of Section 572.023 of the Government Code, a filer’s personal financial statement must include:

(1) the filer’s financial activity in which the filer held an ownership interest, including but not limited to community property; and

(2) the financial activity of the filer’s spouse and dependent children if the filer exercised or held the right to exercise any degree of legal or factual control over the activity, notwithstanding a partition agreement.