H.B. 403 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 403 By: Madden Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the penalty for releasing voting results before the polls close is a Class C misdemeanor. Routinely there have been problems associated with this unlawful release of election results. House Bill 403 raises the offense from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor in order to make prosecution more likely and serve as a stronger deterrent to the early release of voting results. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 403 amends the Election Code by increasing the penalty for an election officer, watcher, or other person serving at a polling place in an official capacity who, before polls close, unlawfully reveals information relating to the election results from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.