Sec. 255.006.  MISLEADING USE OF OFFICE TITLE.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly enters into a contract or other agreement to print, publish, or broadcast political advertising with the intent to represent to an ordinary and prudent person that a candidate holds a public office that the candidate does not hold at the time the agreement is made.
(b)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly represents in a campaign communication that a candidate holds a public office that the candidate does not hold at the time the representation is made.
(c)  For purposes of this section, a person represents that a candidate holds a public office that the candidate does not hold if:
(1)  the candidate does not hold the office that the candidate seeks;  and
(2)  the political advertising or campaign communication states the public office sought but does not include the word "for" in a type size that is at least one-half the type size used for the name of the office to clarify that the candidate does not hold that office.
(d)  A person other than an officeholder commits an offense if the person knowingly uses a representation of the state seal in political advertising.
(e)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 899, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 300, Sec. 30, eff. Aug. 30, 1993;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 250, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1134, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 5.17, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 737, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.