1. (a) The rental of office space is not required for the conduct of the primary elections.
2. (b) The Secretary of State shall reimburse necessary office-space-rental expenses incurred with respect to the administration of the primary elections for a period beginning no earlier than December 1, 2007, and ending not later than the last day of the month in which the last primary election is held.
3. (c) If the rental of office space is necessary, the county party shall rent office space in a regularly rented commercial building. Office rent shall not exceed the fair market rate for office space currently-rented in the same area.
4. (d) Unless such services are required in accordance with the lease agreement, no payment may be made with primary funds for janitorial services, parking, or signage.
5. (e) The county party may not rent or lease office space in which the party, the county chair, the county chair's spouse, or the county chair's family has a financial interest. (See definition of "family" at §81.114(b) of this title (relating to Conflicts of Interest)).
6. (f) If the party leases space for the purpose of the primary only, the county chair shall transmit a copy of the three competitive bids obtained as well as the lease agreement to the Secretary of State, along with a copy of the 2008 Primary Election Cost Estimate. (Note: If the party maintains a lease, irrespective of the conduct of the primary, the cost of that lease will not be reimbursed in excess of 30% of the rental cost by the state as a primary expense.)
7. (g) The county chair shall transmit to the Secretary of State, with the next primary election cost estimate or report, any change in a lease agreement. The county chair shall also provide an explanation regarding any change in the lease.

Source Note:The provisions of this §81.129 adopted to be effective November 18, 2003, 28 TexReg 10201; amended to be effective November 27, 2005, 30 TexReg 7719; amended to be effective December 9, 2007, 32 TexReg 9105.