By: Creighton S.B. No. 3014               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the ability to assess penalties by the Texas Ethics   Commission.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 561.0631, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 571.0631.  RULES CONCERNING TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL   ERRORS [VIOLATIONS]. (a) The commission shall adopt rules   prescribing procedures for [investigating and] resolving technical   and clerical errors on [violations of laws within the commission's   jurisdiction. For] registrations and reports filed under laws   within the commission's jurisdiction [Chapter 305, the commission   shall consider clerical violations to include obvious   typographical errors].          (b)  Rules adopted under this section must:                (1)  clearly outline the types of technical and   clerical errors on registrations and reports filed; and                (2)  the time and manner for correcting these types of   errors.          (c)  The commission may not assess a penalty or fine for   technical or clerical errors. A registrant filing a registration or   report shall [under Chapter 305 may] correct obvious typographical   errors [without penalty] by filing either a corrected registration   or report or an updated or amended registration or report.          SECTION 2.  Section 571.173, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The commission may impose a civil penalty of not more   than $5,000 or triple the amount at issue under a law administered   and enforced by the commission, whichever amount is more, for a   delay in complying with a commission order or for a violation of a   law administered and enforced by the commission.          (b)  The commission may not impose a civil penalty except for   knowing violations of laws within the jurisdiction of the   commission. A violation is presumed to not be knowing if the amount   at issue is less than $500.          SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 571.1731, Government   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 571.1731.  WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF A [LATE FILING]   PENALTY.          SECTION 4.  Section 571.1731(a) is amended to read as   follows:          a) A person may request the waiver or reduction of a civil   penalty [under Section 305.033(b) or 572.033(b) of this code or   Section 254.042(b), Election Code,] by submitting an affidavit to   the executive director that states the filer's reasons for   requesting a waiver or reduction.          SECTION 5.  Section 572.033, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The commission shall determine from any available   evidence whether a statement required to be filed under this   subchapter is late. On making a determination that the statement is   late, the commission shall immediately mail a notice of the   determination to the individual responsible for filing the   statement [and to the appropriate attorney for the state].          (b)  If a statement is determined to be late, the individual   responsible for filing the statement is liable to the state for a   civil penalty of $500. [If a statement is more than 30 days late,   the commission shall issue a warning of liability by registered   mail to the individual responsible for the filing. If the penalty   is not paid before the 10th day after the date on which the warning   is received, the individual is liable for a civil penalty in an   amount determined by commission rule, but not to exceed $10,000.          (c)  This section is cumulative of any other available   sanction for a late filing of a sworn statement.]          SECTION 6.  Section 572.034(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  An individual commits an offense if the individual is a   state officer or candidate or state party chair and knowingly and   wilfully fails to file a financial statement on three separate   occasions as required by this subchapter.          The following provisions of the Government Code are repealed:                (1)  Section 571.079; and                (2)  Section 572.007.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.