SRC-SEW H.B. 3229 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3229
77R10599 JMG-DBy: Craddick (Bivins)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/8/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a write-in candidate for the position of director of the
Midland County Hospital District (district) must file a declaration of
candidacy with the secretary of the board of directors of the district not
later than the 30th day before election day. The deadline may not provide
an adequate length of time for the voting public to become informed about
the candidate. H.B. 3229 revises the write-in candidacy declaration
deadline and provides deadline revisions for a write-in candidacy
declaration if a candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot dies or is
declared ineligible.  

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 Section 5A(c), Chapter 112, Acts of the 65th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1977, to require a declaration of write-in
candidacy to be filed with the secretary of the board of directors not
later than 5 p.m. of the fifth day after the date an application for a
place on the ballot is required to be filed in the election (rather than
the 30th day before election day).   Authorizes, however, if a candidate
whose name is to appear on the ballot dies or is declared ineligible after
the 43rd (rather than the 33rd) day before election day, a declaration of
write-in candidacy for the office sought by the deceased or ineligible
candidate to be filed not later than 5 p.m. of the 37th (rather than the
27th) day before election day. 
 
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.