Emergency Sections An agency may adopt a new or amended section or repeal an existing section on an emergency basis if it determines that such action is necessary for the public health, safety, or welfare of this state. The section may become effective immediately upon filing with the Texas Register, or on a stated date less than 20 days after filing, for no more than 120 days. The emergency action is renewable once for no more than 60 days. Symbology in amended emergency sections. New language added to an existing section is indicated by the use of bold text. [Brackets] indicate deletion of existing material within a section. TITLE 1. ADMINISTRATION Part II. Texas Ethics Commission Chapter 6. Campaign Financing Subchapter C. Rules Concerning Reports 1 TAC sec.6.27, sec.6.29 The Texas Ethics Commission adopts on an emergency basis new sec.6.27 and sec.6.29, concerning the setting of guidelines, requirements, and exceptions in regard to campaign reports required to be filed by political parties accepting corporate or labor union contributions, and the reporting schedule for a candidate for state chair, and the reporting schedule for a political committee supporting or opposing a candidate for state chair. The commission has determined that adoption of these sections as soon as possible is in the public interest and is necessary to comply with the Texas Election Code, Title 15, which governs the reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures by candidates, political parties, and political committees. As criminal and civil sanctions may be imposed for violation of provisions of Title 15, it is in all candidates' best interest and welfare that these rules be adopted so that they may comply with those provisions. The new sections are adopted on an emergency basis under Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9d.1(1.11)(b)(9), which provide the Texas Ethics Commission with the authority to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act. The commission is charged by statute with the enforcement and administration of the Election Code, Title 15, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9d.1(1.11)(a)(1)). sec.6.27. Reporting Schedule of a Political Party Accepting Corporate Or Labor Union Contributions. (a) Beginning of period. The beginning day of the period that the reports required by this rule are to cover is the later of: the stated date; the day the political party began accepting corporate or labor union contributions; or the first day after the period covered by the last required report. (b) Reports. A political party that has accepted corporate or labor union contributions authorized by the Texas Election Code, sec.253.104, shall file the following reports on the following dates until the political party is no longer accepting corporate or labor union contributions and the acceptance and expenditure of all such funds has been reported. (1) Semiannual report. A semiannual report shall be filed not later than July 15, covering the period beginning January 1 and continuing through June 30. A report shall be filed not later than January 15, covering the period beginning July 1 and continuing through December 31. (2) Primary election report. A report shall be filed for each primary election held by the political party. The report shall be filed not later than the eighth day before the primary election, covering the period beginning January 1st and continuing through the 10th day before the primary election. (3) General election report. One report shall be filed for the general election for state and county officers. The report shall be filed not later than the 50th day before the general election, covering the period beginning July 1 and continuing through the 61st day before the general election for state and county officers. (c) Forms. The political party shall use the reporting forms prescribed by sec.6.17 of this title (relating to Political Party Sworn Report of Contribution and Expenditures). (d) Filing of reports by mail. The Texas Election Code, sec.251.007, which authorizes the mailing of a report or other document by the deadline for filing such document, applies to any report filed by a political party accepting corporate or labor union contributions. sec.6.29. Reporting Schedule for a Candidate for State Chair, and for a General- Purpose or Specific-Purpose Political Committee Supporting or Opposing such a Candidate. (a) Beginning of period. The beginning day of the period that the reports required by this rule are to cover is the later of: the stated dated; the day after the period covered by a previous report by a committee; or the day of the initial appointment of campaign treasurer for the candidate or committee. (b) Reporting forms. A candidate for state chair shall use the reporting form prescribed by sec.6.14 of this title (relating to State Chair Candidate/Officeholder Sworn Report of Contributions and Expenditures). A committee shall use the reporting form required under the Election Code, Chapter 254. (c) Filing of reports by mail. The Texas Election Code, sec.251.007, which authorizes the mailing of a report or other document by the deadline for filing such document, applies to campaign treasurer appointments by state chair candidates and to reports of contributions and expenditures to be filed by state chair candidates and committees under this rule. (d) Semiannual reports by candidates for state chair. A candidate for state chair of a political party with a nominee on the ballot in the most recent gubernatorial general election shall file semiannual reports. A report shall be filed not later than July 15, covering the period beginning January 1 and continuing through June 30. A report shall be filed not later than January 15, covering the period beginning July 1 and continuing through December 31. (e) Semiannual reports by committees supporting or opposing candidates for state chair. A general-purpose political committee or a specific-purpose political committee supporting or opposing a candidate for state chair of a political party shall include all contributions accepted and all expenditures made for such a candidate on its semiannual reports required by sec.254.123 and sec.254.153 which are due January 15 and July 15. (f) Reports. Each candidate for state chair and each general-purpose political committee or specific-purpose political committee supporting or opposing a candidate for state chair of a political party shall file the following reports covering the following periods. (1) Thirtieth day before convening of convention report. Each candidate and each political committee supporting or opposing a candidate for state chair of a political party shall file a report not later than the 30th day before the convening of the state convention. The report covers the period beginning the first day after the period covered by the last period required to be reported by this rule and continuing through the 40th day before the convening. (2) Eighth day before convening of convention report. Each candidate and each political committee supporting or opposing a candidate for state chair of a political party shall file a report not later than the eighth day before the convening of the state convention. The report covers the period beginning the 39th day before the convening of the state convention and continuing through the 10th day before the convening. Issued in Austin, Texas, on April 28, 1992. TRD-9205908 Jim Mathieson Assistant General Counsel Texas Ethics Commission Effective date: April 29, 1992 Expiration date: August 27, 1992 For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800 Chapter 11. Speaker of the House of Representatives Subchapter A. Campaign Reporting 1 TAC sec.sec.11.1, 11.3, 11.5, 11.7, 11.9 The Texas Ethics Commission adopts on an emergency basis Chapter 11, speaker of the house of representatives, sec.sec.11.1, 11.3, 11.5, 11.7, and 11.9, concerning definitions, guidelines, requirements, and exceptions in regard to campaign finances for candidates for the speaker of the house. The commission has determined that adoption of these sections as soon as possible is in the public interest and is necessary to comply with the Texas Government Code, sec.302.001, and following, which governs the campaign finances for those candidates running for speaker of the house of representatives. Criminal penalties may result for a violation of the provisions of the Government Code, Chapter 302. The new sections are adopted under Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9d.1(1. 11)(b)(9), which provide the Texas Ethics Commission with the authority to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act. The commission is charged by statute with the enforcement of administration of the Government Code, Chapter 302 (see Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-9d.1(1.11)(a)(1)). sec.11.1. Definition. Campaign funds-For purposes of the Government Code, Chapter 302, "campaign funds" as defined in sec.302.011 shall include "interested earned" and shall include "interest paid." sec.11.3. Termination of Candidacy. For purposes of the Government Code, sec.302.213, a speaker candidate is considered to have terminated the candidacy when the candidate is no longer seeking the office or is ineligible to seek the office. sec.11.5. Contents of Sworn Report of Contributions and Expenditures. Each report required to be filed with the commission pursuant to Government Code, sec.302.013, shall set forth the total amount of interest earned during the reporting period. sec.11.7. Permitted Expenditures.
    As required by the Government Code, sec.302.020, a speaker candidate shall not expend campaign funds for any purpose other than those permitted by sec.302.020, and then only if those expenditures are directly related to the speaker candidacy. sec.11.9. Segregation of Campaign Funds. All contributed campaign funds shall be maintained in accounts separate and apart from any other accounts. Issued in Austin, Texas, on April 28, 1992. TRD-9205912 Jim Mathieson Assistant General Counsel Texas Ethics Commission Effective date: April 29, 1992 Expiration date: August 27, 1992 For further information, please call: (512) 463-5800 TITLE 4. AGRICULTURE Part I. Texas Department of Agriculture Chapter 11. Herbicide Regulations 4 TAC sec.11.1, sec.11.2 The Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) adopts on an emergency basis amendments to sec.11.1 and sec.11.2, concerning regulated counties and special provisions for regulated counties. The department is acting upon orders issued by county officials in Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties establishing those counties as counties regulated under the Texas Agriculture Code (the Code), Chapter 75 and requests from county officials for the establishment of a prohibition period for the application of 2, 4-D esters in those counties. County officials have requested that the applications of 2,4-D esters be prohibited in Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties from May 1 to September 15 of each year. The department believes that the establishment of a prohibition period as requested is appropriate and necessary. Climatic conditions in Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties during the period between May 1 and September 15 are not conducive to the use of the volatile ester formulations of 2,4-D and applications of 2,4-D esters during that period have resulted in harm to susceptible crops in those counties. Further, it is necessary that the adoption of the addition of Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties to the regulated county list and the prohibition period be effective immediately so that losses to producers in Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties due to 2,4-D ester exposure may be minimized during the 1992 crop season. The emergency amendment to sec.11.1 adds Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties to the list of counties regulated under the Code, Chapter 75. The emergency amendment to sec.11.2 adds special provisions for Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties providing for a prohibition of the spraying of 2,4-D ester in those counties for the period between May 1 and September 15 of each year. The amendments are adopted on an emergency basis under the Code, sec.75.018, which gives the department the authority to consider a request for revision of a section, and exemption from a requirement of the Code, Chapter 75, or prohibition of spraying in one area and to adopt rules as the department deems appropriate; and Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6252-13 (a)(5), which provide for the adoption of the administrative rules on an emergency basis, without notice and comment. sec.11.1. Counties Regulated.
      The following counties shall be subject to all of the provisions of the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 75 (1981) , unless specifically excepted by the provisions of sec.11.2 of this title (relating to County Special Provisions): Aransas, Archer,
        Austin, Bell, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Briscoe, Burleson, Calhoun, Clay,
          Cochran, Collin, Collingsworth, Cottle, Culberson, Dallas, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton, Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, El Paso, Falls, Foard, Forth Bend, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Hall, Hardin, Harris, Haskell, Hidalgo, Houston, Judspeth, Jackson, Jefferson, Karnes, Kaufman, King, Knox, Lamar, Lamb, Liberty, Loving, McLennan, Martin, Matagorda, Midland, Milam, Motley, Newton, Orange, Parmer, Rains, Reeves, Refugio, Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels, San Patricio, Swisher, Travis, Tyler, Waller, Ward, Wharton, Wichita,
            Wilbarger, Williamson, and Wilson. sec.11.2. County Special Provisions. (a)-(ll) (No change.) (mm) Archer, Clay, Wichita. Applications of 2,4-D esters are prohibited for the period beginning May 1 and ending September 15 of each year. Issued in Austin, Texas, on April 28, 1992. TRD-9205896 Dolores Alavardo Hibbs Chief Administrative Law Judge Texas Department of Agriculture Effective date: April 29, 1992 Expiration date: August 27, 1992 For further information, please call: (512) 463-7583