SRC-JJJ H.B. 1545 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1545 By: Danburg (Shapleigh) State Affairs 5/13/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require the election process to be accessible to voters with disabilities. H.B. 1545 would require polling places to conform with the Texas Accessibility Standards which have been certified by the U.S. Department of Justice as meeting the ADA guidelines. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1545 establishes conditions regarding accessibility standards at polling places for the elderly and persons with physical disabilities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the heading of Section 43.034, Election Code, as follows: Sec. 43.034. New title: ACCESSIBILITY OF POLLING PLACE TO THE ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. SECTION 2. Amends Section 43.034(a), Election Code, to provide that polling places must comply with the standards established under Article 9102, V.T.C.S. (Architectural Barriers). Increases the minimum width of an elevator that makes a polling place accessible from 30 inches to 36 inches. Increases the minimum width of doors, entrances, and exits used to enter or leave polling places from 30 inches to 32 inches. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 174.022(d), Election Code, to make conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.