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.