Texas Ethics Commission
The Texas Ethics Commission is authorized by Government Code, sec.571.091, to 
issue advisory opinions in regard to the following statutes: the Government 
Code, Chapter 302; the Government Code, Chapter 305; the Government Code, 
Chapter 572; the Election Code, Title 15; the Penal Code, Chapter 36; and the 
Penal Code, Chapter 39.
Requests for copies of the full text of opinions or questions on particular 
submissions should be addressed to the Office of the Texas Ethics Commission, 
P.O. Box 12070, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 463-5800.

Ethics Advisory Opinions
EAO Number 328.
The Texas Ethics Commission has been asked to consider whether title 15 of the 
Election Code, the state campaign finance law, preempts a home-rule city from 
adopting a campaign finance ordinance. (AOR-365) 
SUMMARY. The legislature has not preempted the entire subject matter of campaign 
finance from regulation by home-rule cities. Therefore, a particular provision 
of a city campaign finance ordinance is preempted by state law only if it is not 
possible to give effect to both that provision and to the provisions of title 15 
of the Election Code. The Texas Ethics Commission does not have jurisdiction to 
determine whether specific provisions of a city campaign finance ordinance are 
in conflict with title 15. 

EAO Number 329.
Whether a judgment rendered in favor of a prevailing candidate in a lawsuit 
authorized under sec.253.131 of the Election Code is "reportable activity" under 
sec.251.001(11) of the Election Code; whether a donation of legal services to 
pursue such a lawsuit is reportable. (AOR-367) 
SUMMARY.  An award of damages to a candidate in a lawsuit brought under Election 
Code sec.253.131 is not a contribution given with the intent to aid the 
recipient's campaign; nor is the award of damages reportable by the recipient 
under any other provision of title 15.  An individual who provides free legal 
services to a candidate who brings a lawsuit under sec.253.131 makes a non-
reportable political contribution, since the contribution of an individual's 
personal service is not required to be reported. 

EAO Number 330. 
Whether an individual who files an application under chapter 181 or 182 of the 
Election Code to be considered for nomination at a party convention is  required 
to file a personal financial disclosure statement under sec.572.027(a) of the 
Government Code and, if so, whether providing notice to the state party chair of 
an intent to withdraw from consideration by the deadline for filing the personal 
financial disclosure statement relieves an individual of that obligation. (AOR-
368) 
SUMMARY.  An individual who files an application to be considered for nomination 
at a party convention under chapter 181 or 182 of the Election Code is a 
"partisan candidate" for purposes of sec.572.027(a) of the Government Code and 
is required to file a personal financial disclosure statement by the deadline 
set out in that section.  An individual who notified the party chair by February 
12 of his or her intent to withdraw an application for consideration for 
nomination at a party convention was not required to file a personal financial 
disclosure statement under chapter 572 of the Government Code. 
Questions on particular submissions should be addressed to the Texas Ethics 
Commission, P. O. Box 12070, Capitol Station, Austin, Texas 78711-2070, (512) 
463-5800. 
Issued in Austin, Texas, on June 21, 1996.
TRD-9609042
Karen Lundquist
General Counsel
Texas Ethics Commission
Filed: June 24, 1996