BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3566
87R10617 SLB-D	By: Cortez (Zaffirini)
	State Affairs
	5/20/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Precinct chairs often are inaccessible because their contact information is unavailable. State law does not explicitly require the application for a place on the general primary election ballot as a candidate for precinct chair to include a phone number or a public email address at which campaign correspondence may be received. If voters cannot reach their precinct chair due to a lack of contact information, they are inadequately represented.

H.B. 3566 would address this issue by revising ballot application requirements for the election of a precinct chair to require the inclusion of candidates' contact information.

H.B. 3566 amends current law relating to the ballot application requirements for the election of a precinct chair.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 172.021, Election Code, by adding Subsection (h), as follows:

(h) Requires that an application for a place on the ballot as a candidate for precinct chair, in addition to complying with Section 141.031 (General Requirements for Application), include:

(1) an electronic mail address at which the candidate receives correspondence relating to the candidate's campaign;

(2) a telephone number at which the candidate can be reached; or

(3) an electronic mail address and a telephone number described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.