SRC-JJJ S.B. 752 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 752
76R8250 PAM-DBy: Sibley
Intergovernmental Relations
3/2/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law provides that a change in a single-member city council
district boundary is not effective for an election unless the date of the
ordinance adopting the boundary change is more than five months before the
election day.  Recent annexation of a municipality has left the newly
annexed citizens of the municipality without the right to participate in an
upcoming election.  S.B. 752 would allow the newly annexed citizens to
participate in a city election process by recognizing their residency in an
area prior to annexation.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 752 establishes residents' voting rights and the right to
file for candidacy after an area is annexed by certain small and medium
sized municipalities. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  EFFECT OF ANNEXATION ON VOTING RIGHTS AND RIGHT TO FILE FOR
CANDIDACY.  Provides that this section applies only to a home-rule
municipality with a population of 110,000 or less as shown by the most
recent federal decennial census.  Requires the municipality to permit all
qualified voters residing in the annexed area to vote in municipal
elections; and any qualified person residing in the annexed area to file as
a candidate for municipal office if the person satisfies the residency
requirements in a municipal election held on or after the 90th day after
the effective date of an annexation, notwithstanding other law.   

SECTION 2.  EXTENSION OF FILING DEADLINE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.  Extends
the filing deadline to the third day after the effective date of this Act
to permit a person who resides in the annexed area to file for candidacy,
if the filing deadline for a candidate's place on the ballot expires by
other law before the effective date, in an election held under SECTION 1. 

SECTION 3.  EXPIRATION DATE OF ACT.  Provides that this Act expires January
1, 2000. 

SECTION 4.  APPLICATION OF ACT.  Makes application of this Act prospective. 

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date: upon passage.