SRC-MSY S.B. 784 78(R)   
BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 784
78R1082 ATP-DBy: Armbrister
State Affairs
3/10/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current election laws, uniform election rules exist to encourage
local governments to hold only a few elections each year.  Still, local
governments are able to use exceptions to the uniform election rules in
order to hold many elections per year.  As proposed, S.B. 784 amends
existing laws to combine uniform election days for general and special
elections into only two days each year. 

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 41.001(a) and (b), Election Code, as follows:

(a)  Deletes Subdivisions (1) and (3) pertaining to specific dates on
which general or special elections must be held.  Redesignates Subdivision
(2) as Subdivision (1) and redesignates Subdivision (4) as Subdivision
(2). 

(b)  Deletes Subdivision (2), which makes certain education bond elections
exempt from the requirements of Subsection (a).  Redesignates Subdivisions
(3)-(7) as Subdivisions (2)-(6). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, by amending the
deadline by which the governing body of certain political subdivisions may
change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to
another authorized uniform election date.  Changes the year before which
an election on the new date may not be held to 2004, rather than 2000. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 41.253(b), Education Code, by changing the date
on which a transitional board of trustees of a school district must order
an election for an initial board of trustees to the first May uniform
election date after the effective date of a consolidation order, rather
than the first February uniform election date. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 49.103(b), Water Code, to require a certain
election to be held on the uniform election date in May, rather than in
February or May, of each even-numbered year. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 56.804(a), Water Code, to require an election
to be held on a uniform election in May, rather than February or May. 

SECTION 6.  Repealer:  Sections 41.001(d) and (e) (prohibiting certain
elections from being held on the February or September uniform election
date; providing an exception), Election Code. 

SECTION 7.  Requires a political subdivision that before October 1, 2003,
held its general election for officers on the February or September
uniform election date to change the election date as permitted by  Section
41.0052, Election Code, as amended by this Act, to a date authorized by
Section 41.001, Election Code, as amended by this Act. 

SECTION 8.  Effective date:  October 1, 2003.
Makes application of this Act prospective.