85R2325 ATP-D     By: Anchia H.B. No. 464       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the acceptance of political contributions by a member   of the Railroad Commission of Texas and of political contributions   made in connection with the office of railroad commissioner.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Natural Resources   Code, is amended by adding Section 81.010045 to read as follows:          Sec. 81.010045.  CERTAIN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS   RESTRICTED. (a)  In this section, "political committee" and   "political contribution" have the meanings assigned by Section   251.001, Election Code.          (b)  A commissioner may not knowingly accept a political   contribution given or offered with the intention that it be used in   connection with a campaign for or the holding of any elective   office, including the office of commissioner, except during the   period:                (1)  beginning 17 months before the date of the next   general election at which the commissioner's office is filled; and                (2)  ending on the 30th day after the date of that   election.          (c)  A person other than a commissioner may not knowingly   accept a political contribution given or offered with the intention   that it be used in connection with a campaign for the office of   commissioner, except:                (1)  during the period:                      (A)  beginning 17 months before the date of the   next general election at which any commissioner's office is filled;   and                      (B)  ending on the 30th day after the date of that   election; or                (2)  during the period beginning on the date a vacancy   in the office of commissioner occurs and ending on the date that   vacancy is filled.          (d)  A commissioner may not knowingly accept a political   contribution, and shall refuse a political contribution that is   received, from a party in a contested case before the commission or   a political committee affiliated with such a party during the   period:                (1)  beginning on the date notice of the hearing in the   contested case is given; and                (2)  ending on:                      (A)  the 30th day after the date the decision in   the contested case is rendered; or                      (B)  if a request for rehearing is filed:                            (i)  the date the request is denied; or                            (ii)  the 30th day after the date the   decision after rehearing is rendered.          (e)  A commissioner shall return a political contribution   that is received and refused under Subsection (d) not later than the   30th day after the date the commissioner received the contribution.          (f)  The commission shall adopt all rules necessary to   implement Subsections (d) and (e), including rules that:                (1)  direct the commission to maintain a list of the   contested cases before the commission and the parties to each case   in order to aid the commissioners in complying with those   subsections; and                (2)  ensure that each notice of a hearing in a contested   case that is issued by the commission or a commissioner contains   information about the political contributions prohibited under   Subsection (d).          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.