By Cuellar H.B. No. 59
76R1559 PAM-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to creating a voter information pamphlet for judicial
1-3 elections.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Title 16, Election Code, is amended by adding
1-6 Chapter 278 to read as follows:
1-7 CHAPTER 278. VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLET FOR JUDICIAL ELECTIONS
1-8 Sec. 278.001. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter
1-9 applies to each candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot or
1-10 a list of declared write-in candidates in a judicial election.
1-11 Sec. 278.002. STATEMENT FILED BY CANDIDATE. Not later than
1-12 the 70th day before the date of the judicial election, a candidate
1-13 may file with the secretary of state an informational statement, on
1-14 a form prescribed by the secretary, to be included in the voter
1-15 information pamphlet for that election.
1-16 Sec. 278.003. STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a) A candidate's
1-17 statement must include a summary of the following information:
1-18 (1) current occupation;
1-19 (2) educational and occupational background;
1-20 (3) biographical information; and
1-21 (4) any previous experience serving in government.
1-22 (b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the format and
1-23 length of the candidate's statement.
1-24 Sec. 278.004. REVIEW BY SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) Not later
2-1 than the fifth day after the date the candidate's statement is
2-2 received, the secretary of state shall review the statement to
2-3 determine whether it complies with this chapter.
2-4 (b) If the secretary of state determines that the statement
2-5 does not comply with the applicable requirements, the secretary
2-6 shall reject the statement and deliver written notice of the reason
2-7 for the rejection to the candidate not later than the second day
2-8 after the date of rejection.
2-9 (c) A candidate whose statement is rejected may resubmit the
2-10 statement subject to the prescribed deadline.
2-11 Sec. 278.005. PREPARATION OF PAMPHLET. (a) The secretary
2-12 of state shall contract for the preparation and printing of the
2-13 voter information pamphlet after soliciting bids for that work.
2-14 The secretary may prepare or print the pamphlet if the secretary
2-15 determines that the costs of that preparation or printing are less
2-16 than or equal to the most reasonable bid submitted.
2-17 (b) The pamphlet must include the candidates' statements
2-18 that comply with this chapter, with candidates for election and
2-19 write-in candidates for election as separate groups. The order of
2-20 the candidates' names within the groups is determined by a drawing
2-21 conducted by the secretary of state.
2-22 (c) To the extent practicable, the pamphlets shall be
2-23 prepared so that they contain only candidates for offices on which
2-24 the voters receiving them will be eligible to vote.
2-25 (d) The secretary of state shall prescribe appropriate
2-26 explanatory material to be included in the pamphlet to assist the
2-27 voters, including a statement that the pamphlet may be used at the
3-1 polls to assist the voters in marking their ballots.
3-2 Sec. 278.006. DISTRIBUTION OF PAMPHLET. Not later than the
3-3 45th day before the date of each judicial election, the secretary
3-4 of state shall mail the appropriate voter information pamphlet to
3-5 each household in this state in which a registered voter resides.
3-6 Sec. 278.007. ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES. The secretary of state
3-7 shall prescribe any additional procedures necessary to implement
3-8 this chapter.
3-9 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-10 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.