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.