CHAPTER 257. POLITICAL PARTIES - Texas Statutes

ELECTION CODE

TITLE 15. REGULATING POLITICAL FUNDS AND CAMPAIGNS

CHAPTER 257. POLITICAL PARTIES

Sec. 257.001. PRINCIPAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE OF POLITICAL PARTY.

The state or county executive committee of a political party may

designate a general-purpose committee as the principal political

committee for that party in the state or county, as applicable.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.19, eff. Jan. 1,

1992.

Sec. 257.002. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO CORPORATE OR LABOR UNION

CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) A political party that accepts a

contribution authorized by Section 253.104 may use the

contribution only to:

(1) defray normal overhead and administrative or operating costs

incurred by the party; or

(2) administer a primary election or convention held by the

party.

(b) A political party that accepts contributions authorized by

Section 253.104 shall maintain the contributions in a separate

account.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.19, eff. Jan. 1,

1992.

Sec. 257.003. REPORT REQUIRED. (a) A political party that

accepts contributions authorized by Section 253.104 shall report

all contributions and expenditures made to and from the account

required by Section 257.002.

(b) The report must be filed with the commission and must

include the information required under Section 254.031 as if the

contributions or expenditures were political contributions or

political expenditures.

(c) Sections 254.001 and 254.032-254.037 apply to a report

required by this section as if the party chair were a campaign

treasurer of a political committee and as if the contributions or

expenditures were political contributions or political

expenditures.

(d) The commission shall prescribe by rule reporting schedules

for each primary election held by the political party and for the

general election for state and county officers.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.19, eff. Jan. 1,

1992. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 251, eff.

Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 257.004. RESTRICTIONS ON CONTRIBUTIONS BEFORE GENERAL

ELECTION. (a) Beginning on the 60th day before the date of the

general election for state and county officers and continuing

through the day of the election, a political party may not

knowingly accept a contribution authorized by Section 253.104 or

make an expenditure from the account required by Section 257.002.

(b) A person who violates this section commits an offense. An

offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.19, eff. Jan. 1,

1992.

Sec. 257.005. CANDIDATE FOR STATE OR COUNTY CHAIR OF POLITICAL

PARTY. (a) Except as provided by this section, the following

are subject to the requirements of this title that apply to a

candidate for public office:

(1) a candidate for state chair of a political party with a

nominee on the ballot in the most recent gubernatorial general

election; and

(2) a candidate for election to the office of county chair of a

political party with a nominee on the ballot in the most recent

gubernatorial general election if the county has a population of

350,000 or more.

(b) A political committee that supports or opposes a candidate

covered by Subsection (a) is subject to the provisions of this

title that apply to any other committee that supports or opposes

candidates for public office, except as provided by this section.

(c) The reporting schedules for a candidate covered by

Subsection (a) or a political committee supporting or opposing

the candidate shall be prescribed by commission rule.

(d) Except as provided by this section, each contribution to and

expenditure by a candidate covered by Subsection (a) is subject

to the same requirements of this title as a political

contribution to or a political expenditure by a candidate for

public office. Each contribution to and expenditure by a

political committee supporting or opposing a candidate covered by

Subsection (a) is subject to the same requirements of this title

as a political contribution to or political expenditure by any

other specific-purpose committee.

(e) Section 251.001(1) does not apply to this section.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.19, eff. Jan. 1,

1992. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 252, eff.

Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 249, Sec. 2.24, 2.25,

eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 257.006. CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY. (a)

Except as provided by Section 257.004, a person who knowingly

uses a contribution in violation of Section 257.002 or who

knowingly fails to otherwise comply with this chapter commits an

offense.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.19, eff. Jan. 1,

1992.

Sec. 257.007. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules to

implement this chapter.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.19, eff. Jan. 1,

1992.