SRC-SEW H.B. 1820 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1820 77R11922 GGS-DBy: Madden (Sponsor Unknown) State Affairs 5/11/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Election polling places require equipment and personnel that can be very costly for a county to supply for an election precinct of small or no population. However, current law sets forth no method for a county to eliminate such election precincts. H.B. 1820 sets forth provisions regarding a recommendation to eliminate a county election precinct with a substantially small or no population. 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 Chapter 42A, Election Code, by adding Section 42.010, as follows: Sec. 42.010. RECOMMENDATION ON ELIMINATION OF LESS POPULOUS PRECINCTS. (a) Authorizes the commissioners court, after each redistricting of a ward of a city described by Section 42.005(a)(6), to submit recommendations to the governing body of the city on changes to the wards of the city to allow the county to eliminate county election precincts with no population or a substantially small population. (b) Requires the commissioners court, after each redistricting of a territorial unit described by Section 42.005(a)(1) or (2), to consider changes to the territorial units to allow the county to eliminate county election precincts with no population or a substantially small population. (c) Authorizes the commissioners court, after each redistricting of a territorial unit described by Section 42.005(a)(3), (4), (5), or (7), the to submit recommendations to the secretary of state on changes to the territorial units to allow the county to eliminate county election precincts with no population or a substantially small population. (d) Defines "substantially small population." (e) Requires the recommendations, to be considered by the secretary of state, to be submitted in the manner prescribed by the secretary. (f) Requires the secretary of state to evaluate all timely recommendations submitted in accordance with Subsection (e). Requires the secretary to compile all recommendations for the elimination of the county election precincts in a manner consistent with state and federal law. (g) Requires the secretary of state to file a report containing the information described by Subsection (f) with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives not later than the date of convening the first regular legislative session that occurs after a redistricting of a territorial unit described by Subsection (c). Requires the secretary, if the information submitted is insufficient for the compilation required by Subsection (f), to include a statement to that effect in the report. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.