Bill

HB 1059

84(R) - 2015
House General Investigating & Ethics
House General Investigating & Ethics
General Investigating & Ethics

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Chris Turner

Bill Caption

Relating to the filing and contents of and public access to personal financial statements filed by public officials and candidates; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty.

Bill Analysis

This legislation would amend Government Code to reduce each category financial threshold of reporting of a personal financial statement, and require the statement to be filed electronically with the Ethics Commission, and require the Texas Ethics Commission to make those statements available on their website within 15 days after the file date. 

The legislation adds specific instructions into regards to gifts, if cash or a cash equivalent or gift certificate, the description must include the actual face value of the gift on the disclosure statement.

Vote Recommendation Notes

We remain neutral on this legislation. This bill would amend the Government Code to adjust the financial category thresholds in regards to personal financial statements, and adds instructions on requirements for assessments in regards to gifts to determine a valuation. The legislation also requires that all disclosure forms would be required to be published to the Texas Ethics Commission website no later than 15 days after the required filing deadline.