MAD C.S.H.B. 324 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


ELECTIONS
C.S.H.B. 324
By: Maxey
3-31-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

During the last cycle of spring municipal elections, certain
municipalities conducted early voting as required by the Election Code,
but only during the business hours of the city clerk's office: 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.  As compared with the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. early voting for state
and county elections, it is nearly impossible for working people to take
advantage of early voting. 

If early voting is to be of any use, it must be accessible to those
citizens who work during the day.  By extending the hours for early
voting, the State of Texas can do just that. 

PURPOSE

C.S.H.B. 324 would require early voting hours to be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
for city elections conducted in a city in a county in which all the
members of the governing body are elected on an at-large basis and with a
population of 450,000 or more, and,  if the city secretary is the early
voting clerk under Section 83.005, Election Code. 

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 Chapter 85, Election Code, by adding Sec. 85.008 (Days
and Hours for Voting:  Election in Certain Cities) which provides that if
the city elects all members of the governing body on an at-large basis,
and, the city secretary serving in a city in a county with a population of
450,000 or more is the early voting clerk under Sec. 83.005, Election
Code, then early voting by personal appearance must be conducted on
corresponding days and for same number of hours as such early voting is
required in the county for the general election for state and county
officers.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date of September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Population of cities effected was lowered to 450,000 and only
cities in which all members of the governing body are elected on an
at-large basis were targeted.