HBA-TBM H.B. 2336 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2336 By: Danburg Elections 3/13/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE During the recent presidential campaign, the State of Florida experienced a chaotic recount situation caused in part by the use of punch-card ballot systems. As a result, the federal government may make funds available to states to update their ballot systems. House Bill 2336 provides methodology for the distribution of federal funds made available for assistance in the administration of elections in Texas. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the secretary of state in SECTION 1 (Section 31.009, Election Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2336 amends the Election Code to provide that if federal funds are made available to assist the state in the administration of elections, including assistance for the phasing out or prohibition of the use of punch-card ballot voting systems, the secretary of state is required to administer and distribute the funds as appropriate to most effectively facilitate the purposes for which the funds are made available. The secretary of state is required to prescribe any necessary rules and take any appropriate action to implement this provision. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.