Sec. 253.175. JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN FAIRNESS FUND

(a) The judicial campaign fairness fund is a special account in the general revenue fund.

(b) The judicial campaign fairness fund consists of:

(1) penalties recovered under Section 253.176; and

(2) any gifts or grants received by the commission under Subsection (e).

(c) The judicial campaign fairness fund may be used only for:

(1) voter education projects that relate to judicial campaigns; and

(2) payment of costs incurred in imposing civil penalties under this subchapter.

(d) To the extent practicable, the fund shall be permitted to accumulate until the balance is sufficient to permit the publication of a voter's guide that lists candidates for judicial office, their backgrounds, and similar information. The commission shall implement this subsection and shall adopt rules under which a candidate must provide information to the commission for inclusion in the voter's guide. In providing the information, the candidate shall comply with applicable provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The voter's guide must, to the extent practicable, indicate whether each candidate is a complying candidate or noncomplying candidate, based on declarations filed under Section 253.164 or determinations by the executive director or the county clerk, as appropriate, under Section 253.165. The listing of a noncomplying candidate may not include any information other than the candidate's name and must include a statement that the candidate is not entitled to have complete information about the candidate included in the guide.

(e) The commission may accept gifts and grants for the purposes described by Subsections (c)(1) and (d). Funds received under this subsection shall be deposited to the credit of the judicial campaign fairness fund.

(f) The judicial campaign fairness fund is exempt from Sections 403.094 and 403.095, Government Code.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 763, Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 1995.