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.