SRC-JEC, MSY S.B. 757 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 757
By: Brimer
State Affairs
6/13/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Election Code requires candidates for judicial office
to file a petition in order to appear on a primary ballot, and allows a
candidate who does not wish to pay a filing fee to file a separate
petition for that purpose.  The Secretary of State provides two separate
forms for the two separate purposes; however, current law does not specify
which form should be used in a given case. S.B. 757 specifies that a
candidate for judicial office must file one type of petition, while the
other type of petition can be submitted by any candidate who does not wish
to pay a filing fee, regardless of what office the candidate is seeking. 

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 Sections 172.021(b) and (e), Election Code, as follows:

(b)  Requires that a certain petition accompany an application "in lieu of
the filing fee," rather than "instead of the filing fee." 

(e)  Specifies that an application for a certain office must be
accompanied by a petition "for a place on the primary ballot as a
candidate for judicial office."  Makes a conforming change. 

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