S.B. No. 3014 aims to amend the Government Code regarding the Texas Ethics Commission's handling of technical and clerical errors in registrations and reports. The bill introduces new provisions that require the commission to adopt rules for resolving such errors, clearly defining what constitutes a technical or clerical error and outlining the procedures for correction. It also stipulates that registrants can correct obvious typographical errors without penalty and prohibits the commission from imposing fines solely based on these errors. Additionally, the bill modifies the conditions under which civil penalties can be assessed, specifying that penalties can only be imposed for violations committed knowingly, with a presumption of non-knowledge for amounts under $500.

The bill further updates the language surrounding civil penalties for late filings and repeals certain sections of the Government Code that are deemed unnecessary. It clarifies that the changes will apply only to registrations, reports, or statements filed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Overall, S.B. No. 3014 seeks to streamline the process for addressing minor errors in filings and ensure that penalties are applied fairly and consistently.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 561.0631, Government Code 571.173, Government Code 571.1731, Government Code 572.033, Government Code 572.034 (Government Code 561, Government Code 571, Government Code 572)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 571.0631, Government Code 571.173, Government Code 571.1731, Government Code 572.033, Government Code 572.034 (Government Code 561, Government Code 571, Government Code 572)