Sheet 1: ToC

	
	
	
	
	
	
	

		
City of Houston 
		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		
Specific-Purpose Committee (SPAC)
		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		
Campaign Finance Report
		


		


		


		


		


		


		
Table of Contents
		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		
Version 4.2
		


	
	

		
We advise filers not to wait till the last minute to file.  Electronic filing may go wrong and filers may need time to
		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		
correct the filings.
		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Form SPAC - Specific-Purpose Committee - Cover Sheet
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule A - Political Contributions Other Than Pledges Or Loans
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule B - Pledged Contributions
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule C - Corporate Or Labor Organization Contributions Other Than Pledges Or Loans
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule D - Pledged Corporate Or Labor Organization Contributions
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule E - Loans
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule F - Political Expenditures
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule H - Payment from Political Contributions to a Business of C/OH
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule I - Non-Political Expenditures Made From Political Contributions
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule J - Political Contributions Returned to Committee
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule K - Credits (optional)
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Schedule T - In-Kind Contribution or Political Expenditure for Travel Outside of Texas
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Form PAC - DR - Political Committee Affidavit of Dissolution
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		
External Links
		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		
City of Houston
		


		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Home Page
		
http://www.houstontx.gov/
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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City Secretary
		
http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/index.html
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
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Texas Ethics Commission
		


		
http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


		


	



Sheet 2: Guide

	
	
	
	
	

		
City of Houston 
		


		

		Click "☼" to return to the Table of Contents
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Specific-Purpose Committee
		


		


		
FORM SPAC
		


	
	

		
Campaign Finance Report
		


		


		
Guide
		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		
Overview
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
We advise filers not to wait till the last minute to file.  Electronic filing may go wrong and filers may need time to correct the filings.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
This Microsoft Excel spreadsheet has been designed to help candidates, officeholders, or committees comply with the Texas Election Code, and the City of Houston's Campaign Finance Reporting ordinance.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
The Guide tab has been designed to provide:
- a general overview of the City's Campaign Finance Reporting - Data Collection Tool; and
- an explanation of how to navigate the different tabs.
See the Instructions tab for information about completing the various forms.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Every effort has been made to parallel the Texas Ethics Commission's filing format.  Some variations in form were unavoidable, but all content required by the Texas Election Code, and the City of Houston Campaign Finance Reporting ordinance have been included.  You will find links to both the City's and the TEC's Campaign Finance web sites on the Table of Contents tab.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
The Data Collection Tool performs no data validation.  It is the responsibility of the filer to ensure that data are properly and accurately entered, and submitted fully and timely via the City Secretary's Campaign Finance Reports Electronic Filing System.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
The Data Collection Tool provides "balloon help" messages only for the fields where filing instructions are not provided on the TEC's web site.  These help messages "pop up" beneath the cell.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
The filer must use Form COR-PAC to correct a previous filing.  To file a correction:
- Use Form COR-PAC to describe the nature of the change to your original filing; and
- File Form COR-PAC, and any needed SPAC forms, using the City Secretary's Campaign Finance Reports Electronic Filing System.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
No scripts, macros or program logic have been used to create this Data Collection Tool.  As a consequence, it should operate without issues on any Windows XP SP2 (or better) PC without changing any "internet security settings."
		


		


		


	
	

		
Tabs
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
The spreadsheet consists of thirteen tabs for collecting campaign finance data, and three informational tabs.  (The one tab where drop-down lists are defined is only for the Tool.)
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Each data collection tab has been designed to collect a specific type of campaign finance data. 
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
All tabs are password protected, and only cells that will accept data can be changed. 
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Tabs can be accessed by clicking the "☼" link beside the form name on the Table of Contents (ToC) tab or by clicking on the tab associated with a form directly.
		


		


		


	
	

		
Color Indicators
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Black cells with white text are intended to provide basic header information or to separate different sections of a form.  These cells are protected and cannot be changed.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Cells with a grey background and black text are informational and are designed to assist the filer.  These cells are protected and cannot be changed.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Cells that will accept data are indicated by black text on a white background.  These cells are NOT protected and CAN be changed.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		
Navigation
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Because MS Excel is THE industry standard for spreadsheets, most people are familiar with how to use the application.  This familiarity was one of the key reasons for using MS Excel as the underlying application for the Data Collection Tool.  Because no "special" logic has been used to create the Data Collection Tool and its forms, anyone familiar with MS Excel should be able to use the Tool without special training.
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
On the top of most pages, and associated with text descriptions on other pages, you will find the symbol "☼". 
		


		


		


	
	

		


		
From the ToC tab, clicking the "☼" symbol will take you to the associated tab.  Clicking the "☼" symbol at the top of any data collection or informational page will return you to the Table of Contents.  
		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


	



Sheet 3: Instructions

	
	
	
	
	

		
City of Houston 
		


		

		Click "☼" to return to the Table of Contents
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Specific-Purpose Committee
		


		


		
FORM SPAC
		


	
	

		
Campaign Finance Report
		


		


		
Instructions
		


	
	

		


		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
We advise filers not to wait till the last minute to file.  Electronic filing may go wrong and filers may need time to correct the filings.
		


	
	

		


		
The City of Houston's Campaign Finance Reporting - Data Collection Tool parallels the State of Texas Ethics Commision's Campaign Finance Reporting forms required to be filed under Title 15, Texas Election Code.

To understand what data is being collected or to review the Texas Ethics Commission instructions associated with each form, please go to the TEC's website at http://www.ethics.state.tx.us.

For specific questions about how to use the City's Data Collection Tool, refer to the Guide tab, connect to the City Secretary's web site at http://www.houstontx.gov/citysec/, or contact the City Secretary at 713.247.1840.
		


	
	

		
ELECTRONIC FILING 
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
All persons filing campaign finance reports with the City Secretary are required to file those reports electronically unless the person is eligible to claim an exemption. Please check the City Secretary's website at http://www.houstontx.gov/council/ord-electronic.html for information about exemptions from the electronic filing requirement.
		


	
	

		
TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION GUIDES
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
The Texas Ethics Commission publishes a campaign finance guide for each type of filer. These guides are designed to explain your responsibilities as a filer. The commission encourages you to read the appropriate guide before you begin accepting political contributions or making or authorizing political expenditures.

Unless explicitly noted, instructions for submitting campaign finance documents with the City Secretary follows the Texas Ethics Commission's campaign finance guide.
		


	
	

		
FILING DATE
		


		


		


		


	
	

		


		
Please refer to the Texas Ethics Commission's website for instructions on when to file.  The deadline for filing a report is 5 p.m. on the due date. If the due date for a report falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the report is due by 5 p.m. on the next regular business day.