Rules

PROPOSED RULES

At its October 29, 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 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.

Definition of “First Responder”
Text of Proposed Rule

§ 18.23. Administrative Waiver of Fine
Text of Proposed Rule

§ 18.24. General Guidelines for Other Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine
Text of Proposed Rule

§ 18.25. Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I
Text of Proposed Rule

§ 18.26. Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II
Text of Proposed Rule

Legislative Per Diem
Text of Proposed Rule

Definition of “First Responder”
Text of Proposed Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

Subchapter A. GENERAL RULES

§ 6.1. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this part, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Act--The Government Code, Chapter 571 (concerning Texas Ethics Commission).

(2) Administrative Procedure Act--The Government Code, Chapter 2001 (concerning Administrative Procedure).

(3) Agency--The state agency governed by the commission, as it functions and operates through the administrative staff hired by the commission and its executive director.

(4) Commission--The Texas Ethics Commission, as constituted and described in the Texas Constitution, Article 3, § 24a.

(5) Document--A report, complaint, response, letter, or any other written material.

(6) Executive director--The person employed by the commission to serve as the agency’s chief administrative officer, or any other employee of the commission acting as the designee of the executive director.

(7) Family member or relative--An individual who is related within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity, as defined by the Government Code, Chapter 573, Subchapter B (concerning Relationships by Consanguinity or by Affinity).

(8) Filer--A person required to file a report with the commission or a local filing authority in accordance with this title.

(9) Individual--A human being who has been born and is alive.

(10) Local filing authority--A public servant other than the Texas Ethics Commission with whom a filer must file a report in accordance with this title, as identified in § 20.5 of this title (relating to Reports Filed with a County Filing Authority) and § 20.7 of this title (relating to Reports Filed with Other Local Filing Authority).

(11) Open Meetings Law--The Government Code, Chapter 551 (concerning Open Meetings).

(12) Open Records Law--The Government Code, Chapter 552 (concerning Open Records).

(13) Person--An individual, representative, corporation, association, or other entity, including any nonprofit corporation, or any agency or instrumentality of federal, state, or local government.

(14) Postmark--A postal cancellation by the United States Postal Service that contains the post office name, state, and zip code and the month, day, and year the canceling post office accepted custody of the material.

(15) Presiding officer--The person elected to serve as the commission’s chairman or chairwoman under § 6.21 of this title (relating to Officers of the Commission).

(16) Report--Any document or other information required to be filed under this title.

(17) Staff--Employees of the commission, hired by the commission or the executive director.

(18) Title 15--The Election Code, Title 15 (concerning Regulating Political Funds and Campaigns).

(19) First responder--An individual who is:

(A) a peace officer whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency;

(B) fire protection personnel, as that term is defined by Section 419.021, Government Code;

(C) a volunteer firefighter who performs firefighting duties on behalf of a political subdivision;

(D) an ambulance driver; or

(E) an individual certified as emergency medical services personnel by the Department of State Health Services.

§ 18.23. Administrative Waiver of Fine
Text of Proposed Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

§ 18.23. Administrative Waiver of Fine

(a) A filer may request the executive director to waive a late fine by submitting an affidavit to the executive director that states facts that establish that:

(1) the report was filed late because of [a] an unforeseen serious medical emergency or condition or a death that involved the filer, a family member or relative of the filer, a member of the filer’s household, or a person whose usual job duties include preparation of the report;

(2) the report was filed late as a result of verifiable severe weather at the filer’s location that prevented the filer from filing the report by the applicable deadline and the report was filed within a reasonable time after the deadline;

(3) the report was filed late because the filer was a first responder, as defined in § 6.1 of this title (relating to Definitions), deployed to an emergency situation at the time of the filing deadline or a member of the military deployed on active duty at the time of the filing deadline and the report was filed within a reasonable time after the deadline;

(4)[(2)] the filer of the personal financial disclosure report is not an elected official, a candidate for election, or a salaried public servant, and the late report:

(A) was the first personal financial disclosure report filed late by the filer under Government Code chapter 572; and

(B) was filed no later than 30 days after the individual was notified that the report appeared to be late;

(5)[(3)] the filer of the personal financial disclosure report was an unopposed candidate in a primary election, and the late report:

(A) was the first personal financial disclosure report filed late by the filer under Government Code chapter 572; and

(B) was filed before the primary election

(6)[(4)] the filer of the campaign finance report:

(A) had filed all previous reports by the applicable deadline;

(B) had no contributions, expenditures, or loans to report; and

(C) filed the report no later than 30 days after the filer was notified that the report appeared to be late;

(7)[(5)] the filer reasonably relied on incorrect information given to the filer by the agency; or

(8)[(6)] other administrative error by the agency.

(b) If, in the executive director’s discretion, the affidavit establishes grounds for a waiver under this section, the executive director shall waive the fine.

§ 18.24. Other Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine – Guidelines
Text of Proposed Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

§ 18.24. General Guidelines for Other Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine

(a) A filer who does not qualify for a waiver under section 18.23 of this title (relating to Administrative Waiver of Fine) may request the executive director to waive a late fine by submitting an affidavit to the executive director. The executive director may waive or reduce the late fine if the filer meets the criteria and the late report meets the qualifications under the guidelines set out in sections 18.25 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I) and 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II) of this title.

(b) For purposes of determining a waiver or reduction of a late fine under sections 18.25 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I) and 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II) of this title, a late report will be classified by report type, as follows:

(1) Any report that is not a critical report as defined under subsection (b)(2) will be classified as Report Type I and considered under section 18.25 of this title (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I).

(2) A critical report will be classified as Report Type II and considered under section 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II). A “critical report” is:

(A) a campaign finance pre-election report due 30 days before an election;

(B) a campaign finance pre-election report due 8 days before an election;

(C) a runoff report;

(D) a daily special pre-election report required under Section 254.038 or 254.039, Election Code;

(E) a semiannual report subject to the higher statutory fine under Section 254.042, Election Code; or

(F) a personal financial statement required under Section 572.027, Government Code, if the filer is a candidate with an opponent on the ballot in a primary election.

(1) Category A includes candidates for and officeholders of the following offices and specific-purpose committees supporting candidates for and officeholders of the following offices:

(A) statewide office;

(B) legislative office;

(C) district judge;

(D) state appellate court justice;

(E) State Board of Education member; and

(F) Secretary of State.

(2) Category B includes all filers not categorized in Category A, as defined by subsection (c)(1) of this section, or Category C, as defined by subsection (c)(3) of this section. Examples of Category B filers include the following filer types:

(A) lobbyists;

(B) salaried non-elected officials;

(C) candidates for and officeholders of district attorney;

(D) candidates for and officeholders of political party chair; and

(E) political committees with $3,000 or more in annual activity in the calendar year in which the late report was due.

(3) Category C includes:

(A) unsalaried appointed board members and officials; and

(B) political committees with less than $3,000 in annual activity in the calendar year in which the late report was due.

(d) For purposes of a reduction of a late fine under sections 18.25 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I) and 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II) of this title, the following explanations will be accepted as showing good cause:

(1) The report was filed no more than one day late.

(2) The report was filed within seven days of receipt of a late notice.

(3) The report was not a critical report and was prepared and placed in the mail on time but not postmarked by the deadline.

(4) The filer had technical difficulties after regular business hours, but the report was filed on the next business day that the commission’s technical support staff was at work.

(5) The filer's address changed and the filer did not receive notice of the filing deadline.

(6) There are no funds in the filer's campaign or officeholder account and the filer is unemployed.

(7) A first-time filer that is required to file campaign finance reports with a county filing authority and personal financial statements with the commission, who mistakenly files the personal financial statement with the county on the filing deadline and then correctly files with the commission within seven days of realizing the mistake.

(e) For purposes of a reduction of a late fine under sections 18.25 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I) and 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II) of this title, the following explanations will not be accepted as showing good cause:

(1) The filer did not know the report was due.

(2) The filer forgot or the person assigned by the filer to prepare the report forgot.

(3) The campaign was very time-consuming.

(4) The filer’s job was very time-consuming.

(5) The filer was too overwhelmed by responsibilities to file the report on time.

(6) The filer was a candidate who lost an election and did not know to terminate his or her campaign treasurer appointment and file a final report.

(7) The filer left his or her position and did not know he or she was still required to file a report.

(f) A late fine that is reduced under section 18.25 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I) or 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II) of this title will revert to the full amount originally assessed if the reduced fine is not paid within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the letter informing the filer of the reduction.

(g) A filer may appeal a determination made under section 18.25 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I) or 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II) of this title by submitting a request in writing to the commission.

(1) The request for appeal should state the filer’s reasons for requesting an appeal, provide any additional information needed to support the request, and state whether the filer would like the opportunity to appear before the commission and offer testimony regarding the appeal.

(2) After hearing a request for appeal, the commission may affirm the determination made under section 18.25 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I) or 18.26 (relating to Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II) of this title or make a new determination based on facts presented in the appeal.

§ 18.25. Other Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine:
Report Type I (non-critical reports)
Text of Proposed Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

§ 18.25. Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type I

(a) The executive director shall apply the guidelines set out in this section to a late report classified as Report Type I under section 18.24(b) of this title.

(b) In order to qualify for a waiver or reduction of a late fine under this section, a filer must meet all of the following criteria:

(1) The filer has no more than two prior late offenses in the five (5) years preceding the filing deadline of the late report at issue;

(2) The filer filed the report within thirty (30) days of learning the report was late;

(3) The filer has not had the late fine for the report at issue increased by the commission at a public meeting pursuant to Section 254.042(b), Election Code, or Section 305.033(c) or 572.033(b), Government Code; and

(4) The filer does not have an outstanding late fine.

(c) The executive director shall use the following levels chart to determine the level of waiver or reduction of a late fine under this section:

Report Type I Levels Chart
(For All Reports Other Than Critical Reports)

ªThe categorization shifts one-half level (from Level 2 to 1.5; from Level 3 to 2.5) if the filer’s explanation qualifies as good cause under section 18.24(d) of this title.

§ 18.26 Other Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine:
Report Type II (critical reports)
Text of Proposed Rule

The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

§ 18.26. Administrative Waiver or Reduction of Fine: Report Type II

(a) The executive director shall apply the guidelines set out in this section to a late report classified as Report Type II under section 18.24(b) of this title.

(b) In order to qualify for a waiver or reduction of a late fine under this section, a filer must meet all of the following criteria:

(1) The filer has no more than two prior late offenses in the five (5) years preceding the filing deadline of the late report at issue;

(2) The filer has not had the late fine for the report at issue increased by the commission at a public meeting pursuant to Section 254.042(b), Election Code, or Section 305.033(c) or 572.033(b), Government Code; and

(3) The filer does not have an outstanding late fine.

(c) The executive director shall use the following levels chart to determine the level of waiver or reduction of a late fine under this section if:

(1) The late report at issue discloses less than $3,000 in total contributions and less than $3,000 in expenditures for the reporting period;

(2) The late report at issue was filed no more than thirty (30) days after the filer learned that the report was late; and

(3) The filer has no prior late offenses or only one prior late offense in the five (5) years preceding the filing deadline of the late report at issue.

Report Type II Levels Chart
(For Critical Reports under section 18.26(c))

ªThe categorization shifts one-half level (from Level 2 to 1.5; from Level 3 to 2.5) if the filer’s explanation qualifies as good cause under section 18.24(d) of this title.

(d) The executive director shall use the following formulas chart to determine the level of waiver or reduction of a late fine under this section if:

(1) The late report at issue discloses either $3,000 or more in total contributions or $3,000 or more in expenditures for the reporting period;

(2) The late report at issue was filed over thirty (30) days after the filer learned that the report was late; or

(3) The filer has two (2) prior late offenses in the five (5) years preceding the filing deadline of the late report at issue.

Report Type II Formulas Chart
(For Critical Reports under section 18.26(d))

Category A

Category B

Category C

(e) Comments:

Report Type II Formulas Chart Examples:

(1) Candidate X seeking the office of State Representative (Category A filer type)

	Report:	30–day pre–election report due February 3, 2014 (Report Type II)
	Filed Date:	February 4, 2014 (1 day late; good cause under section 18.24(d))
	Activity:	contributions = $10,000; expenditures = $5,000 (use Formulas Chart)
	Prior offenses:	none
	Penalty:	$500
	Determination:	reduction to $150

Formula Calculation = $150 (Category A, Good Cause, 0 Priors, 1st day late)

 

(2) Large GPAC filing under the regular (semiannual) filing schedule (Category B filer type)

	Report:	30–day pre–election report due February 3, 2014 (Report Type II)
	Filed Date:	February 4, 2014 (1 day late; good cause under section 18.24(d))
	Activity:	contributions = $10,000; expenditures = $5,000 (use Formulas Chart)
	Prior offenses:	two prior late reports in the last five years
	Penalty:	$500
	Determination:	reduction to $300

Formula Calculation = $300 (Category B, Good Cause, 2 Priors, 1st day late)

 

(3) Candidate Y seeking the office of District Judge (Category A filer type)

	Report:	8–day pre–election report due February 24, 2014 (Report Type II)
	Filed Date:	March 20, 2014 (24 days late; filed within 7 days of late notice; good cause under section 18.24(d))
	Activity:	contributions = $10,000; expenditures = $5,000 (use Formulas Chart)
	Prior offenses:	none
	Penalty:	$2,800
	Determination:	reduction to $1,150

Formula Calculation = $150 (Category A, Good Cause, 0 Priors, 1st day late) + $1,000 (next 10 days late @ $100 per day) + $0 (remaining 13 days late do not add up to full 30-day segment) = $1,150.

 

(4) Large GPAC filing under the regular (semiannual) filing schedule (Category B filer type)

	Report:	30–day pre–election report due February 3, 2014 (Report Type II)
	Filed Date:	April 4, 2014 (60 day late)
	Activity:	contributions = $10,000; expenditures = $5,000
	Prior offenses:	five prior late reports in the last five years
	Penalty:	$500
	Determination:	no waiver

Filer did not meet the criteria under subsection (b)(1) of this section because the filer has over two prior late offenses in the five years preceding the report due date.

Legislative Per Diem
Text of Proposed Rule

The deleted text is indicated by [strikethrough] text.
The proposed new language is indicated by underlined text.

Chapter 50. LEGISLATIVE SALARIES AND PER DIEM

§ 50.1. Legislative Per Diem

(a) The legislative per diem is $210[$150]. The per diem is intended to be paid to each member of the legislature and the lieutenant governor for each day during the regular session and for each day during any special session.

(b) If necessary, this rule shall be applied retroactively to ensure payment of the $210[$150] per diem for 2015[2013].