SRC-JEC C.S.H.B. 1696 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1696 78R17256 EBy: Denny (Staples) State Affairs 5/22/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.H.B. 1696 removes these restrictions, enabling a poll watcher who serves for more than five continuous hours 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 that serves for more than five continuous hours 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.