CHAPTER 252. CAMPAIGN TREASURER
ELECTION CODE
TITLE 15. REGULATING POLITICAL FUNDS AND CAMPAIGNS
CHAPTER 252. CAMPAIGN TREASURER
Sec. 252.001. APPOINTMENT OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER REQUIRED. Each
candidate and each political committee shall appoint a campaign
treasurer as provided by this chapter.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987.
Sec. 252.0011. INELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT AS CAMPAIGN
TREASURER. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), a
person is ineligible for appointment as a campaign treasurer if
the person is the campaign treasurer of a political committee
that does not file a report required by Chapter 254.
(b) The period for which a person is ineligible under Subsection
(a) for appointment as a campaign treasurer ends on the date on
which the political committee in connection with which the
person's ineligibility arose has filed each report required by
Chapter 254 that was not timely filed or has paid all fines and
penalties in connection with the failure to file the report.
(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to a person if, in any
semiannual reporting period prescribed by Chapter 254:
(1) the political committee in connection with which the
person's ineligibility arose did not accept political
contributions that in the aggregate exceed $5,000 or make
political expenditures that in the aggregate exceed $5,000; and
(2) the candidate who or political committee that subsequently
appoints the person does not accept political contributions that
in the aggregate exceed $5,000 or make political expenditures
that in the aggregate exceed $5,000.
(d) Subsection (c) applies to a person who is the campaign
treasurer of a general-purpose committee regardless of whether
the committee files monthly reports under Section 254.155. For
purposes of this subsection, political contributions accepted and
political expenditures made during a monthly reporting period are
aggregated with political contributions accepted and political
expenditures made in each other monthly reporting period that
corresponds to the semiannual reporting period that contains
those months.
(e) A candidate or political committee is considered to have not
appointed a campaign treasurer if the candidate or committee
appoints a person as campaign treasurer whose appointment is
prohibited by Subsection (a).
(f) A person who violates this section is liable for a civil
penalty not to exceed three times the amount of political
contributions accepted or political expenditures made in
violation of this section.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 249, Sec. 2.03, eff. Sept. 1,
2003.
Sec. 252.002. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT. (a) A campaign
treasurer appointment must be in writing and include:
(1) the campaign treasurer's name;
(2) the campaign treasurer's residence or business street
address;
(3) the campaign treasurer's telephone number; and
(4) the name of the person making the appointment.
(b) A political committee that files its campaign treasurer
appointment with the commission must notify the commission in
writing of any change in the campaign treasurer's address not
later than the 10th day after the date on which the change
occurs.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.05, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.
Sec. 252.003. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT BY GENERAL-PURPOSE
COMMITTEE. (a) In addition to the information required by
Section 252.002, a campaign treasurer appointment by a
general-purpose committee must include:
(1) the full name, and any acronym of the name that will be used
in the name of the committee as provided by Subsection (d), of
each corporation, labor organization, or other association or
legal entity that directly establishes, administers, or controls
the committee, if applicable, or the name of each person who
determines to whom the committee makes contributions or the name
of each person who determines for what purposes the committee
makes expenditures;
(2) the full name and address of each general-purpose committee
to whom the committee intends to make political contributions;
and
(3) the name of the committee and, if the name is an acronym,
the words the acronym represents.
(b) If any of the information required to be included in a
general-purpose committee's appointment changes, excluding
changes reported under Section 252.002(b), the committee shall
file an amended appointment with the commission not later than
the 30th day after the date the change occurs.
(c) The name of a general-purpose committee may not be the same
as or deceptively similar to the name of any other
general-purpose committee whose campaign treasurer appointment is
filed with the commission. The commission shall determine whether
the name of a general-purpose political committee is in violation
of this prohibition and shall immediately notify the campaign
treasurer of the offending political committee of that
determination. The campaign treasurer of the political committee
must file a name change with the commission not later than the
14th day after the date of notification. A campaign treasurer who
fails to file a name change as provided by this subsection or a
political committee that continues to use a prohibited name after
its campaign treasurer has been notified by the commission
commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a Class B
misdemeanor.
(d) The name of a general-purpose committee must include the
name of each corporation, labor organization, or other
association or legal entity other than an individual that
directly establishes, administers, or controls the committee. The
name of an entity that is required to be included in the name of
the committee may be a commonly recognized acronym by which the
entity is known.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.02, eff. Jan. 1,
1992; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.06, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.
Sec. 252.0031. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT BY SPECIFIC-PURPOSE
COMMITTEE. (a) In addition to the information required by
Section 252.002, a campaign treasurer appointment by a
specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a candidate
for an office specified by Section 252.005(1) must include the
name of and the office sought by the candidate. If that
information changes, the committee shall immediately file an
amended appointment reflecting the change.
(b) The name of a specific-purpose committee for supporting a
candidate for an office specified by Section 252.005(1) must
include the name of the candidate that the committee supports.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 7.15(a), eff. Aug. 28,
1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 304, Sec. 5.03, eff.
Jan. 1, 1992.
Sec. 252.0032. CONTENTS OF APPOINTMENT BY CANDIDATE. (a) In
addition to the information required by Section 252.002, a
campaign treasurer appointment by a candidate must include:
(1) the candidate's telephone number; and
(2) a statement, signed by the candidate, that the candidate is
aware of the nepotism law, Chapter 573, Government Code.
(b) A campaign treasurer appointment that is filed in a manner
other than by use of an officially prescribed form is not invalid
because it fails to comply with Subsection (a)(2).
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 7.15(a), eff. Aug. 28,
1989. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3A.03, eff.
Aug. 30, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(26), eff.
Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1134, Sec. 2, eff. Sept.
1, 1997.
Sec. 252.004. DESIGNATION OF ONESELF. An individual may appoint
himself or herself as campaign treasurer.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 238, eff. Sept. 1,
1997.
Sec. 252.005. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED: CANDIDATE.
An individual must file a campaign treasurer appointment for the
individual's own candidacy with:
(1) the commission, if the appointment is made for candidacy
for:
(A) a statewide office;
(B) a district office filled by voters of more than one county;
(C) a judicial district office filled by voters of only one
county;
(D) state senator;
(E) state representative; or
(F) the State Board of Education;
(2) the county clerk, if the appointment is made for candidacy
for a county office, a precinct office, or a district office
other than one included in Subdivision (1);
(3) the clerk or secretary of the governing body of the
political subdivision or, if the political subdivision has no
clerk or secretary, with the governing body's presiding officer,
if the appointment is made for candidacy for an office of a
political subdivision other than a county;
(4) the county clerk if:
(A) the appointment is made for candidacy for an office of a
political subdivision other than a county;
(B) the governing body for the political subdivision has not
been formed; and
(C) no boundary of the political subdivision crosses a boundary
of the county; or
(5) the commission if:
(A) the appointment is made for candidacy for an office of a
political subdivision other than a county;
(B) the governing body for the political subdivision has not
been formed; and
(C) the political subdivision is situated in more than one
county.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.07, eff. Aug. 30,
1993; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 511, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Sec. 252.006. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED:
SPECIFIC-PURPOSE COMMITTEE FOR SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING CANDIDATE
OR ASSISTING OFFICEHOLDER. A specific-purpose committee for
supporting or opposing a candidate or assisting an officeholder
must file its campaign treasurer appointment with the same
authority as the appointment for candidacy for the office.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987.
Sec. 252.007. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED:
SPECIFIC-PURPOSE COMMITTEE FOR SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING MEASURE. A
specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a measure
must file its campaign treasurer appointment with:
(1) the commission, if the measure is to be submitted to voters
of the entire state;
(2) the county clerk, if the measure is to be submitted to
voters of a single county in an election ordered by a county
authority;
(3) the secretary of the governing body of the political
subdivision or, if the political subdivision has no secretary,
with the governing body's presiding officer, if the measure is to
be submitted at an election ordered by an authority of a
political subdivision other than a county;
(4) the county clerk if:
(A) the measure concerns a political subdivision other than a
county;
(B) the governing body for the political subdivision has not
been formed; and
(C) no boundary of the political subdivision crosses a boundary
of a county; or
(5) the commission if:
(A) the measure concerns a political subdivision other than a
county;
(B) the governing body for the political subdivision has not
been formed; and
(C) the political subdivision is situated in more than one
county.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.08, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.
Sec. 252.008. MULTIPLE FILINGS BY SPECIFIC-PURPOSE COMMITTEE NOT
REQUIRED. If under this chapter a specific-purpose committee is
required to file its campaign treasurer appointment with more
than one authority, the appointment need only be filed with the
commission and, if so filed, need not be filed with the other
authorities.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.09, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.
Sec. 252.009. AUTHORITY WITH WHOM APPOINTMENT FILED:
GENERAL-PURPOSE COMMITTEE. A general-purpose committee must file
its campaign treasurer appointment with the commission.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.10, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.
Sec. 252.010. TRANSFER OF APPOINTMENT. (a) If a candidate who
has filed a campaign treasurer appointment decides to seek a
different office that would require the appointment to be filed
with another authority, a copy of the appointment certified by
the authority with whom it was originally filed must be filed
with the other authority in addition to the new campaign
treasurer appointment.
(b) The original appointment terminates on the filing of the
copy with the appropriate authority or on the 10th day after the
date the decision to seek a different office is made, whichever
is earlier.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987.
Sec. 252.011. TIME APPOINTMENT TAKES EFFECT; PERIOD OF
EFFECTIVENESS. (a) A campaign treasurer appointment takes
effect at the time it is filed with the authority specified by
this chapter.
(b) A campaign treasurer appointment continues in effect until
terminated.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987.
Sec. 252.012. REMOVAL OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER. (a) A campaign
treasurer appointed under this chapter may be removed at any time
by the appointing authority by filing the written appointment of
a successor in the same manner as the original appointment.
(b) The appointment of a successor terminates the appointment of
the campaign treasurer who is removed.
(c) If the campaign treasurer of a specific-purpose political
committee required to file its campaign treasurer appointment
with the commission or of a general-purpose political committee
is removed by the committee, the departing campaign treasurer
shall immediately file written notification of the termination of
appointment with the commission.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.11, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.
Sec. 252.013. TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT ON VACATING POSITION.
(a) If a campaign treasurer resigns or otherwise vacates the
position, the appointment is terminated at the time the vacancy
occurs.
(b) A campaign treasurer who vacates the treasurer's position
shall immediately notify the appointing authority in writing of
the vacancy.
(c) If the campaign treasurer of a specific-purpose political
committee required to file its campaign treasurer appointment
with the commission or of a general-purpose political committee
resigns or otherwise vacates the position, the campaign treasurer
shall immediately file written notification of the vacancy with
the commission.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.12, eff. Aug. 30,
1993; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 239, eff. Sept. 1,
1997.
Sec. 252.0131. TERMINATION OF CAMPAIGN TREASURER APPOINTMENT.
(a) The commission by rule shall adopt a process by which the
commission may terminate the campaign treasurer appointment of an
inactive candidate or political committee that is required to
file a campaign treasurer appointment with the commission. The
governing body of a political subdivision by ordinance or order
may adopt a process by which the clerk or secretary, as
applicable, of the political subdivision may terminate the
campaign treasurer appointment of an inactive candidate or
political committee that is required to file a campaign treasurer
appointment with the clerk or secretary. For purposes of this
section, a candidate or political committee is inactive if the
candidate or committee:
(1) has never filed or has ceased to file reports under Chapter
254;
(2) in the case of a candidate, has not been elected to an
office for which a candidate is required to file a campaign
treasurer appointment with the authority who is seeking to
terminate the candidate's campaign treasurer appointment; and
(3) has not filed:
(A) a final report under Section 254.065 or 254.125; or
(B) a dissolution report under Section 254.126 or 254.159.
(b) Before the commission may terminate a campaign treasurer
appointment, the commission must consider the proposed
termination in a regularly scheduled open meeting. Before the
clerk or secretary of a political subdivision may terminate a
campaign treasurer appointment, the governing body of the
political subdivision must consider the proposed termination in a
regularly scheduled open meeting.
(c) Rules or an ordinance or order adopted under this section
must:
(1) define "inactive candidate or political committee" for
purposes of terminating the candidate's or committee's campaign
treasurer appointment; and
(2) require written notice to the affected candidate or
committee of:
(A) the proposed termination of the candidate's or committee's
campaign treasurer appointment;
(B) the date, time, and place of the meeting at which the
commission or governing body of the political subdivision, as
applicable, will consider the proposed termination; and
(C) the effect of termination of the candidate's or committee's
campaign treasurer appointment.
(d) The termination of a campaign treasurer appointment under
this section takes effect on the 30th day after the date of the
meeting at which the commission or governing body, as applicable,
votes to terminate the appointment. Following that meeting, the
commission or the clerk or secretary of the political
subdivision, as applicable, shall promptly notify the affected
candidate or political committee that the appointment has been
terminated. The notice must state the effective date of the
termination.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 249, Sec. 2.04, eff. Sept. 1,
2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.
597, Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.
Sec. 252.014. PRESERVATION OF FILED APPOINTMENTS. The authority
with whom a campaign treasurer appointment is filed under this
chapter shall preserve the appointment for two years after the
date the appointment is terminated.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987.
Sec. 252.015. ASSISTANT CAMPAIGN TREASURER. (a) Each
specific-purpose committee for supporting or opposing a candidate
for an office specified by Section 252.005(1) or a statewide or
district measure and each general-purpose committee may appoint
an assistant campaign treasurer by written appointment filed with
the commission.
(b) In the campaign treasurer's absence, the assistant campaign
treasurer has the same authority as a campaign treasurer.
(c) Sections 252.011, 252.012, 252.013, and 252.014 apply to the
appointment and removal of an assistant campaign treasurer.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1987; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 3.13, eff. Aug. 30,
1993.