TITLE: Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the governor or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or assisting the governor from accepting political contributions during a special legislative session.

SUMMARY: Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the governor or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or assisting the governor from accepting political contributions during a special legislative session.

FULL TEXT:
85(1) HJR 54-Introduced version-Bill Text 85S12252 MK-D By: Moody H.J.R. No. 54 A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the governor or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or assisting the governor from accepting political contributions during a special legislative session. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article IV, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 8a to read as follows: Sec. 8a. (a) During the period beginning on the date a special legislative session called by the governor under Section 40, Article III, of this constitution convenes and continuing through the date of final adjournment of the special legislative session, the governor or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or assisting the governor may not knowingly accept a political contribution and shall refuse a political contribution that is received during that period. (b) A political contribution that is received and refused during the period described by Subsection (a) of this section shall be returned to the contributor not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt. A contribution made by United States mail or by common or contract carrier is not considered received during that period if it was properly addressed and placed with postage or carrier charges prepaid or prearranged in the mail or delivered to the contract carrier before the beginning of the period. The date indicated by the post office cancellation mark or the common or contract carrier documents is considered to be the date the contribution was placed in the mail or delivered to the common or contract carrier unless proven otherwise. (c) This section does not apply to a political contribution that was made and accepted with the intent that it be used: (1) in an election held or ordered during the period prescribed by Subsection (a) of this section in which the person accepting the contribution is a candidate if the contribution was made after the person appointed a campaign treasurer with the appropriate authority and before the person was sworn in for that office; (2) to defray expenses incurred in connection with an election contest; or (3) by the governor if the governor was defeated at the general election held immediately before the session is convened or by a specific-purpose committee that only supports or assists the governor. (d) In this section, "political contribution" and "specific-purpose committee" have the meanings assigned by Section 251.001, Election Code, or a successor statute. SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment prohibiting the governor or a specific-purpose committee for supporting or assisting the governor from accepting political contributions during a special legislative session."