H.B. 2150 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2150 By: Denny Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the early voting clerk has the discretion to begin early voting by personal appearance on Saturday or Sunday if the 17th day before election day falls on the weekend. Allowing the clerk to determine the first day for early voting by personal appearance has had the potential to cause confusion for voters and election officials. In some areas in which multiple elections are being held, voting begins on the weekend for some entities and on the following business day for others. House Bill 2150 eliminates the early voting clerk's discretion over the start date for early voting by personal appearance. 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 2150 amends the Election Code by providing that the early voting period begins on the next regular business day if the statutorily prescribed date for the beginning of early voting by personal appearance falls on a weekend or legal state holiday. The bill removes the provision allowing the early voting period to begin on that Saturday of Sunday if the authority ordering the election has authorized early voting to be held on one or more weekend days during the early voting period. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.