SRC-EPT H.B. 1274 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1274
By: Geren (Nelson)
State Affairs
5/18/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law, requires a person circulating a petition for a candidate's
place on a ballot to point out and read  certain statements to each person
who signs the petition and requires each part of the petition to include
an affidavit verifying that this was done.  These requirements can be
difficult and time-consuming to meet and can, some assert, create a burden
on petitioners, especially on candidate's required to submit petitions for
election and reelection.  H.B. 1274 reduces the burdens on petitioners by
removing these 


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, as follows:
 
Sec. 141.064.  METHOD OF ACQUIRING SIGNATURE.  Requires a person
circulating a petition to: 
  (1) witness each signature;
  (2) ascertain that each date of signing is correct; and
(3) before the petition is filed, verify each signer's registration status
and ascertain that each registration number entered on the petition is
correct. 

Deletes existing subdivision (1) that reads, "before permitting a person
to sign, point out and read to the person each statement pertaining to the
signer that appears on the petition;".  Renumbers Subdivisions (2) - (4)
as (1) - (3). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 141.065(a), Election Code, as follows:
 
(a)  Requires each part of a petition to include an affidavit of the
person who circulated it stating that the person: 
  (1)  witnessed each signature;
  (2) verified each signer's registration status; and
(3) believes each signature to be genuine and the corresponding
information to be correct. 

Deletes existing Subdivision (1) that reads "pointed out and read to each
signer, before the petition was signed, each statement pertaining to the
signer that appears on the petition;".  Renumbers Subdivisions (2) - (4)
as (1) - (3). 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.
Makes application of this Act prospective.