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.