The rental of office equipment is not required for the conduct of the primary elections. Office equipment (including telephone equipment) necessary for the administration of the primary elections may be leased for the period not earlier than December 1 preceding the primary and ending not later than the last day of the month in which the last primary is held (general or runoff primary election). The county party may not rent or lease party owned equipment to the primary fund. Any equipment rented must be from an entity with at least three other clients and that has been in business for at least 18 months. In addition, rental charges may not be paid from primary fund for the use of property in which the county chair or county chair's family has a financial interest. The county party or chair may be reimbursed for the cost of incidental supplies used in connection with primary election use. Examples of incidental supplies are paper, toner and staples for a county party owned copier. The primary fund may not be used to purchase any single office supply item or equipment of more than $100 in value. Purchases of office supplies necessary for the administration of the primary elections are payable from the primary fund. The expenditure for purchase of two copies of a paperback version of the Texas Election Code is authorized from the primary fund. No payment may be made from the primary fund for notary public expenses.

Source Note:The provisions of this §81.127 adopted to be effective November 3, 1997, 22 TexReg 10502.