SRC-JEC S.B. 229 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 229
77R2480 DRH-DBy: Harris
Intergovernmental Relations
01/18/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a municipality may hold an election on any one of the
four uniform election dates, three of which are on Saturdays.  Some
religions prohibit doing business, including voting, on Saturdays.  As
proposed, S.B. 229 allows a city, if it determines that more than 50
percent of the registered voters are prohibited from voting by their
religious beliefs, to hold an election on a date other than a uniform
election date. 

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 41.001(b), Election Code, to exempt from
application of Subsection (a) a general or special election of officers of
a general-law city if the city's governing body determines that the
religious beliefs of more than 50 percent of the registered voters of the
city prohibit voting on Saturday.  Makes nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.