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.