Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1975 )

March 21. 1975 The Honorable Mark W. White, Jr. Opinion No. H- 561 Secretary of State Capitol Building Re: Whether a contribution to Austin, Texas 78711 a candidate which is pledged and received after the elec- tion is a prohibited gift to a Dear Secretary White: public servant You have requested our opinion concerning Chapter 36 of the Penal Code. Specifically, you ask whether the defense provided in section 36.10(4) is applicable to campaign contributions made after an election. Sectton 36.10 provides in part: It is a defenre to prosecution under Section 36.07 (Compensation for Past Official Behavior), 36.08 (Gift to Public Servant), or 36.09 (Offering Gift to Public Servant) of this code that the bene- fit involved was: . . . (4) a contribution made under the election laws for the political campaign of an elective public servant when he is a candidate for nomination or election to public office. The Election Code in article 14.08(h)(l)(iii), (h)(3) and (h)(5) contemplates post election contributions and provides for thetr reporting. In our opinion, the Legislature intended to provide a defense to sections 36.07. 36.08 and 36.09 for campaign contributions which relate to a specific campaign. p. 2525 The Honorable Mark W. White. Jr., page 2 (H-566) Since the election laws provide for the reporting of post-election contri- butions. especially in the common instance of a campaign deficit, we believe it to be clear that section 36.10(4) was intended to allow such contributions. Accordingly, it is our opinion that the language “when he is a candidate” modifies the word “campaign” as contained in section 36.10(4), and merely limits the defense to contributions to a specific campaign, whether they be made before or after the election. SUMMARY Section 36.10(4) of the Penal Code provides a defense for campaign contributions which relate to a specific campaign. whether they be made before or after the election. Very truly yours. Attorney General of Texas APPROVED: DAVID M. KENDALL, First Assistant Opinion Committee p. 2526