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.