SRC-AMY H.B. 1173 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1173
78R5514 JRJ-DBy: Madden (Madla)
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
5/10/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, polling places are required to be located in public
buildings when practicable. Federal military bases are not expressly
authorized to be polling place locations.  Most polling places are located
in or near a voter's neighborhood.  Those voters who live on military
bases, however, may be required to go off the military base in order to
cast a ballot.  Many individuals feel that these voters should be able to
cast a ballot at the military base or facility where they serve.  H.B.
1173 authorizes a building on a federal military base or facility, with
the permission of the post or base commander, to be a polling place. 


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 43.031(d), Election Code, include a building on
a federal military base or facility with the permission of the post or
base commander as an authorized location for a polling place. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.