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.