SRC-JEC C.S.H.B. 444 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 444
77R13586 GGS-DBy: Madden (Shapiro)
Intergovernmental Relations
4/25/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a write-in vote in a general election for city officers
may not be counted unless the name written in appears on the list of
write-in candidates.  C.S.H.B. 444 modifies the write-in requirements for
all city elections to bring the same guidelines to special elections as
regular elections. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 146.051 and 146.055, Election Code, as follows:

Sec.  146.051.  Provides that a write-in vote in an election for city
officers may not be counted unless the name appears on the list of write-in
candidates.  Deletes text specifying that the prohibition is in the case of
a general election. 

Sec. 146.055.  Provides that Subchapter B applies to write-in voting in an
election for city officers except to the extent of a conflict with this
subchapter.  Deletes text specifying that the applicability is to a general
election. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from the original by deleting the references to a general election
to make the provisions apply to any election, rather than specifying that
the provisions are applicable to a general or a special election.