By Maxey                                               H.B. No. 716
         77R2212 DRH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the conduct of a precinct, county, or district
 1-3     convention by a political party.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 174.021, Election Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 174.021.  SELECTION OF DELEGATES TO COUNTY AND
 1-8     SENATORIAL DISTRICT CONVENTIONS; USE OF PARTY RULES.  (a)  The
 1-9     delegates to a political party's county and senatorial district
1-10     conventions held under this chapter shall be selected in accordance
1-11     with party rules at precinct conventions held as provided by this
1-12     subchapter.
1-13           (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), party rules may provide
1-14     for:
1-15                 (1)  the holding of a precinct convention in a manner
1-16     other than that provided by this subchapter, including the time,
1-17     place, or other procedures necessary to hold the convention; or
1-18                 (2)  the selection of delegates to a county and
1-19     senatorial district convention by a method other than through the
1-20     use of precinct conventions.
1-21           SECTION 2. Section 174.061, Election Code, is amended to read
1-22     as follows:
1-23           Sec. 174.061.  SELECTION OF DELEGATES TO STATE CONVENTIONS;
1-24     USE OF PARTY RULES.  (a)  The delegates to a political party's
 2-1     state conventions held under this code shall be selected in
 2-2     accordance with party rules at county and senatorial district
 2-3     conventions held as provided by this subchapter.
 2-4           (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), party rules may provide
 2-5     for:
 2-6                 (1)  the holding of a county or senatorial district
 2-7     convention in a manner other than that provided by this subchapter,
 2-8     including the time, place, or other procedures necessary to hold
 2-9     the convention; or
2-10                 (2)  the selection of delegates to a state convention
2-11     by a method other than through the use of county and senatorial
2-12     district conventions.
2-13           SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 181, Election Code, is
2-14     amended by adding Section 181.0615 to read as follows:
2-15           Sec. 181.0615.  USE OF PARTY RULES FOR PRECINCT, COUNTY, OR
2-16     DISTRICT CONVENTIONS.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
2-17     subchapter, a political party by rule may provide for:
2-18                 (1)  the holding of a precinct, county, or district
2-19     convention in a manner other than that provided by this subchapter,
2-20     including the time, place, or other procedures necessary to hold a
2-21     convention;
2-22                 (2)  the selection of delegates to a county or district
2-23     convention by a method other than through the use of precinct
2-24     conventions; and
2-25                 (3)  the selection of delegates to a state convention
2-26     by a method other than through the use of county conventions.
2-27           SECTION 4. Chapter 182, Election Code, is amended by adding
 3-1     Section 182.008 to read as follows:
 3-2           Sec. 182.008.  USE OF PARTY RULES FOR PRECINCT AND COUNTY
 3-3     CONVENTIONS.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
 3-4     a political party by rule may provide for:
 3-5                 (1)  the holding of a precinct or county convention in
 3-6     a manner other than that provided by this chapter, including the
 3-7     time, place, or other procedures necessary to hold the convention;
 3-8     and
 3-9                 (2)  the selection of delegates to a county convention
3-10     by a method other than through the use of precinct conventions.
3-11           SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.