MAD C.S.H.B. 841 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


ELECTIONS
C.S.H.B. 841
By: Jackson
4-8-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

The Shuttle/Mir is a cooperative effort in space exploration between the
United States and Russia.  Between the years 1997 and 2001, the
International Space Station will be assembled. Currently, the Shuttle/Mir
flights are part of Phase I program of the International Space Station. In
September of 1996, the fifth of nine planned missions was launched into
space.  One astronaut was in space during the 1996 Presidential election.
He wanted to vote, but was unable because he was in orbit.  He was also
unable to early vote because his mission started before early voting
began.  Once the International Space Station is complete, we will often
have astronauts in orbit during election periods. 

PURPOSE

This legislation would allow future astronauts who are in orbit during an
election to vote. 

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 Subtitle B, Title 7, Election Code, by adding Chapter
105. 

Chapter 105.  Voting on election day by person on space flight.
 Section 105.001.  APPLICABILITY.  This chapter applies only to a person
who: 
  (1) is eligible to vote in this state; and
  (2) is unable to vote because he/she is on a space flight on election
day and during   the early voting period. 

 Section 105.002.  VOTING PERMITTED.  The secretary of state shall
prescribe the   procedures to vote from space by a secure electronic
means. 
  The procedures may provide for:
   (1) a deadline by whicha person must apply to vote; and 
   (2) use the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA)
electronic transmission program to send ballots to persons on a space
flight. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Adding Chapter 105.002(2) which allows for the secretary of
state to work with NASA to use the electronic transmission program to send
ballots to astronauts on a space flight.