SRC-JBJ H.B. 3204 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3204
76R11944 DRH-FBy: Danburg (Ellis)
Education
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Article 2774b, V.T.C.S. governs the election of members of the board of
trustees (board) in an independent school district (district) with 140,000
or more students in a city with a population of 1,590,000 or more.
Currently, this statute applies only to the Houston Independent School
District.   
H.B. 3204 would authorize a district covered under this statute to count
write-in votes and require the declaration of write-in candidates in
accordance with Section 11.056, Education Code (Write-In Voting), or other
laws applicable to districts.  This bill also would modify Article 2774b,
V.T.C.S., to require that a person's written notice of candidacy for the
board of a district covered by the statute be accompanied by a filing fee
or a petition signed by a prescribed number of qualified voters. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3204 adds regulations regarding the election of members
of the board of trustees of certain independent school districts. 

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 Section 3, Article 2774b, V.T.C.S. (Chapter 339, Special
Laws, Acts of the 52nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1951), by adding
Subsection (d), to authorize a school district to count write-in votes and
require the declaration of write-in candidates in the manner provided by
Section 11.056,  Education Code (Write-in Voting). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 4, Article 2774b, V.T.C.S. (Chapter 339, Special
Laws, Acts of the 52nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1951), to provide that
a person who does not file a notice and request, accompanied by a filing
fee or petition provided by Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, is not
entitled to have the person's name printed on the ballot to be used at an
election for a board of trustees for a school district.  Requires the
written notice under Subsection (a) to be accompanied by a filing fee for
the greater of $500 or the amount of the filing fee for a candidate for
state representative under Section 172.024, Election Code (Filing Fee).
Authorizes the fee to be paid only in cash or a cashier's check, certified
check, or money order made payable to the district.  Authorizes a candidate
to submit with the written notice a petition signed by a number of
registered voters equal to at least onehalf of one percent of the total
number of votes case in the district in the most recent gubernatorial
election, instead of the fee under Subsection (b). 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.