H.B. 2089 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2089 By: Geren Elections Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there is no law requiring the secretary of state to post candidate names publicly on the Internet. In recent years, as use of the Internet has become widespread, citizens look to reliable websites, such as that maintained by the secretary of state, for information on elections and candidates. House Bill 2089 ensures that the names of each candidate who is nominated for statewide or district office in the general election is available to the public on the secretary of state's website. 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 2089 amends the Election Code by requiring the secretary of state to make the name of each candidate nominated for statewide or district office in the general election available to the public by posting the name on the secretary of state's website as soon as practicable after the name becomes available and by posting the list of candidates who have filed an application for a place on the ballot on the secretary of state's website not later than the 12th day after the regular filing deadline for the applications. The bill also requires the secretary of state to make the final report of tabulation of unofficial results of certain races available to the public by posting the report on the secretary of state's website. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No. 1 amends House Bill 2089 by adding the address and occupation of each candidate for statewide or district office to the items that the secretary of state is required to post on the agency's website. The amendment also removes the 12 day deadline for posting the list of candidates who have filed an application for a place on the ballot, and instead requires the secretary of state to post the list on the agency's website as soon as practicable.