BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1418
	By: Schwertner
	State Affairs
	5/31/2021
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the Election Code provides that early voting ballot board members are entitled to the same compensation as presiding election judges.

Interested parties contend that the work done by the presiding judge of a ballot board significantly exceeds that of a ballot board clerk. Accordingly, the presiding judge of the ballot board should have the opportunity to be compensated at a higher amount than the clerk.

S.B. 1418 amends the Election Code so that the presiding judge of the ballot board may be compensated at a higher rate than the other board members.

S.B. 1418 amends current law relating to the compensation of the presiding judge of an early ballot voting board.

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 87.005, Election Code, as follows:

Sec. 87.005. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. (a) Entitles members of the early voting ballot board (board) to the same compensation as presiding election judges, except that:

(1) the presiding judge may be compensated at a higher rate at the discretion of the appropriate authority; and

(2) if the board concludes its work in less than 10 hours, the member may to be paid greater compensation than that regularly payable for the amount of time worked, but not to exceed the amount payable for 10 hours' work.

(b) Creates this subsection from existing text and a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.