SRC-JBJ H.B. 1419 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1419
By: Jones, Jesse (Whitmire)
State Affairs
4/27/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The close outcomes of several recent elections suggest that a review of the
current election process to determine the accuracy of voting systems may be
appropriate in the near future.  H.B. 1419 requires the secretary of state
to reexamine the voting system of each county in Texas; study the
effectiveness of adopting a uniform voting system statewide; study
innovative voting technologies and approaches to voting; and report the
conclusions of those studies to certain government officials. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the secretary of state in
SECTION 1 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  (a)  Defines "voting system."

(b)  Sets forth matters relating to voting systems that the secretary of
state is required to consider. 

(c)  Requires the secretary of state, not later than December 1, 2002, to
issue a report summarizing certain information. 

(d)  Requires the secretary of state to promptly deliver copies of the
report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the
house of representatives. 

 (e)  Authorizes the secretary of state to adopt rules necessary to
implement this section. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.