H.B. 2085 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 2085
By: Campbell
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the presiding election judge is required to make a
reasonable effort to appoint Spanish-speaking bilingual election clerks
for each precinct.  In certain areas, despite these efforts, the number of
Spanish-speaking election clerks appointed is insufficient to serve the
needs of the Spanish-speaking voting population.  House Bill 2085 requires
the authority holding the election to appoint at least one bilingual clerk
for a central location, allowing any precinct to solicit assistance from
this one primary location. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 


ANALYSIS

House Bill 2085 amends the Election Code to require the authority holding
the election in a precinct required to use bilingual voting materials to
appoint at least one election clerk who is fluent in both English and
Spanish to serve at a central location to provide assistance for
Spanish-speaking voters, if the number of bilingual election clerks
appointed in the precinct is insufficient to serve the needs of the
Spanish-speaking voters there.  For primary elections, the bill requires
the county chairs of each party holding a primary to appoint one bilingual
clerk for the central location. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.