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.