SRC-JEC H.B. 1696 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1696
78R6831 DRH-DBy: Denny (Staples)
State Affairs
5/14/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a precinct poll watcher must be present at the polling
place at the time it opens on election day, and stay throughout the day.
H.B. 1696 removes these restrictions, enabling a poll watcher to serve
during the watcher's hours of choice. 

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 33.052(a), Election Code, as follows:

Removes the designation for Subsection (a).  Authorizes a poll watcher to
serve at the polling place during the hours the watcher chooses except
that if the watcher is present at the polling place when ballots are
counted, the watcher is prohibited from leaving until the counting is
complete.  Removes a prohibition against a watcher being accepted for
service unless the watcher is present at the time the polls are opened. 

SECTION 2.  Repealers:  Sections 33.052(b), (c), (d), and (e) (regarding
hours of service of a poll watcher at a precinct polling place), Election
Code. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1,2003.