SRC-JLB S.B. 454 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 454
78R3819 JRJ-FBy: Hinojosa
Intergovernmental Relations
3/5/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the City of Corpus Christi may hold general elections on a day
other than the general election day because of a city festival but is not
allowed to hold referendum elections on that alternate day.  As proposed,
S.B. 454 allows referendums and candidate elections to be held on the same
day. 

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 41.0051, Election Code, as follows:

Sec.  41.0051.  New heading:  GENERAL ELECTION IN CERTAIN CITIES WITH
CONFLICTING ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY EVENT.  (a) Authorizes a city to hold
its general election for officers on any Saturday in April in odd-numbered
years if certain conditions are met.  Deletes text regarding a city that
borders the Gulf of Mexico with a population of more than 230,000. 

(b) Authorizes the election date, if the governing body of the city holds
an election under this section, to be used for any other election of the
city or by another political subdivision located wholly or partly in the
territory of the city to allow for a joint election under Chapter 271. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.