MAD H.B. 2785 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS ELECTIONS H.B. 2785 By: Denny 4-29-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, the Election Code provides that regular paper ballots shall be counted by one or more teams of election officers assigned by the presiding judge at the polling place. Each team must consist of two or more election officers. PURPOSE The legislation would require, to the extent possible, that each team counting regular paper ballots in a general election for state and county officers or a special election to fill a vacancy in an office regularly filled at the general election be composed of election officers who are affiliated or aligned with different political parties. 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 Section 65.001, Election Code, by adding (b) which requires that each team counting regular paper ballots, to the extent possible, must be composed of election officers who are affiliated or aligned with different political parties. This would be a requirement for election officers in the general election for state and county officers or a special election to fill a vacancy in an office regularly filled at the general election. SECTION 2. Effective date of September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.