MAD H.B. 51 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS ELECTIONS H.B. 51 By: Madden 2-21-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND According to the provisions of S.B. 680 enacted during the 74th Regular Session, a political subdivision other than a county is permitted to cancel an election if no contested race(s) and no proposition(s) would appear on the ballot. Somehow, community college and hospital districts eluded incorporation under this law's establishment of a write-in candidate declaration procedure which provides the means of ascertaining whether or not a race is contested. PURPOSE H.B. 51 would add community college and hospital districts to the political subdivisions which must follow the write-in candidate declaration procedure established under S.B. 680, which in turn would allow them the option of cancelling an election if the statutorily established criteria for such a cancellation are met. This vehicle can produce savings to the taxpayer and help combat voter fatigue when an unnecessary election is avoided. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1: Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 130, Education Code by adding Section 130.0825 to require a declaration of write-in candidacy in an election for members of the governing board of a junior college. SECTION 2: Amends Chapter 285, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter J to require a declaration of write-in candidacy in an election for board members of a hospital district created under general or special law. SECTION 3: Effective date. SECTION 4: Emergency clause.