SRC-SEW S.B. 1464 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1464
2001S0705/1By: Nelson
State Affairs
3/22/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires a person circulating a petition for a candidate's
place on a ballot to read certain statements in the petition to each person
who signs it and requires each part of a petition to include an affidavit
of the person who circulated it stating that the person pointed out and
read certain statements to the signer.  Many petitioners do not comply with
these requirements because they are difficult and time-consuming to meet.
As proposed, S.B. 1464 requires a person circulating a petition only to be
present when each signature is obtained and requires the petition to
include an affidavit attesting to that fact.   

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 141.064, Election Code, to require a person
circulating a petition for a candidate's place on a ballot to be present
when each signature is obtained.  Deletes text requiring a person to point
out and read statements pertaining to the signer. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 141.065(a), Election Code, to require each part
of a petition to include an affidavit of the person who circulated it
stating that the person was present when each signature was obtained.
Deletes text requiring the affidavit to state that the person pointed out
and read statements pertaining to the signer. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.