TITLE: Relating to removal of political advertising signs placed in a municipality; creating a criminal offense.

SUMMARY: Relating to removal of political advertising signs placed in a municipality; creating a criminal offense.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to removal of political advertising signs placed in a municipality; creating a criminal offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 255, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 255.0075 to read as follows: Sec. 255.0075. REMOVAL OF POLITICAL ADVERTISING SIGNS PLACED IN MUNICIPALITY. (a) In this section, "political advertising sign" means a written form of political advertising designed to be seen from a road but does not include a bumper sticker. (b) A person, including a candidate or campaign treasurer, who instructs another person to place a political advertising sign alongside a public road within the corporate boundaries of a municipality shall remove or cause the removal of the sign not later than the 30th day after the date of the last occurring election to which the sign pertains. For purposes of this subsection, a sign supporting or opposing a candidate in an election does not pertain to a resulting runoff election for which the candidate does not qualify. (c) If a political advertising sign is not removed in accordance with Subsection (b), the municipality in which the sign is located shall remove the sign at the expense of a person responsible for the sign as soon as practicable. (d) A person who violates Subsection (b) commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class Cmisdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $100. Each day of a violation constitutes a separate offense. For purposes of this subsection, a person does not violate Subsection (b) after a municipality has removed a political advertising sign under Subsection (c). SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.