By Reyna of Bexar H.B. No. 626
76R2126 DRH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to primary election dates and procedures and related
1-3 dates.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 41.007(a) and (b), Election Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) The general primary election date is the second Saturday
1-8 in September [second Tuesday in March] in each even-numbered year.
1-9 (b) The runoff primary election date is the second Saturday
1-10 in October [second Tuesday in April] following the general primary
1-11 election.
1-12 SECTION 2. Section 172.023(a), Election Code, is amended to
1-13 read as follows:
1-14 (a) An application for a place on the general primary
1-15 election ballot must be filed not later than 6 p.m. on the third
1-16 Monday in June [January 2] in the primary election year unless the
1-17 filing deadline is extended under Subchapter C.
1-18 SECTION 3. Sections 191.004(a) and (c), Election Code, are
1-19 amended to read as follows:
1-20 (a) [A single ballot shall be used for the presidential
1-21 primary election and general primary election.] The secretary of
1-22 state shall prescribe the form of the presidential primary election
1-23 ballot[, which must accommodate the regular form for the general
1-24 primary election to the extent practicable].
2-1 (c) A drawing to determine the order in which the
2-2 presidential candidates' names are printed on the ballot in the
2-3 county shall be conducted in accordance with procedures prescribed
2-4 by the secretary of state [conjunction with the regular drawing for
2-5 position on the general primary election ballot]. "Uncommitted"
2-6 shall be printed on the ballot following the candidates' names, if
2-7 applicable.
2-8 SECTION 4. Section 191.005, Election Code, is amended to
2-9 read as follows:
2-10 Sec. 191.005. PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCT OF PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
2-11 GENERALLY. (a) [The presidential primary election shall be held
2-12 in conjunction with the party's general primary election.]
2-13 [(b)] Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the
2-14 presidential primary election shall be conducted and the results
2-15 canvassed, tabulated, and reported in accordance with the
2-16 procedures prescribed by this code in relation to the general
2-17 primary election to the extent those procedures can be made
2-18 applicable.
2-19 (b) [(c)] The secretary of state shall prescribe any
2-20 additional procedures necessary for the orderly and proper
2-21 administration of the presidential primary election.
2-22 SECTION 5. The term of a person who is serving as a county
2-23 or precinct chair of a political party on the effective date of
2-24 this Act ends on the 20th day after the second Saturday in October
2-25 2000.
2-26 SECTION 6. The secretary of state by rule shall modify
2-27 applicable procedures, dates, and deadlines in the Election Code to
3-1 implement the changes in primary election dates made by this Act
3-2 and to ensure the orderly and proper administration of the general
3-3 election for state and county officers.
3-4 SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-5 SECTION 8. The importance of this legislation and the
3-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.