CHAPTER 257. POLITICAL PARTIES
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.