SRC-LBB C.S.S.B. 1611 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1611
78R10680 ATP-FBy: Ellis, Rodney
State Affairs
4/29/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there are some ambiguities relating to home-rule city filing
deadlines, deadline extensions, and the time of the local canvass and
counting of late overseas early voting mail ballots in certain elections.
C.S.S.B. 1611 clarifies these issues relating to the determination of
certain dates, deadlines, and procedures under the Election Code. 

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 1.006, Election Code, to create Subsection (a)
from existing text and add Subsection (b) to provide that if the last day
for performance of an act is extended under Subsection (a), the extended
date is used to determine any other dates and deadlines, and the dates or
times of any related procedures, that are expressly required to be made on
a date or at a time determined in relation to the last day for performance
of the act. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 67.003, Election Code, to create Subdivision
(1)(A) from existing text, and add Subdivision (1)(B) relating to an
election of a political subdivision that is held jointly with the general
election for state and county officers.  Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 86.007(d), Election Code, to create Subdivision
(3)(A)(i) from existing text, and add Subdivision (3)(A)(ii) to make a
conforming change.  Makes a conforming change in Subdivision (B). 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 87.125(a), Election Code, to require the early
voting ballot board to convene to count ballots voted by mail described by
Section 86.007(d) at the time set by the presiding judge of the board on a
certain date. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 143.005(a), Election Code, to authorize a city
charter to prescribe requirements in connection with a candidate's
application for a place on the ballot for an office of a home-rule city.
Provides that this section does not authorize a city charter requirement
in connection with the timely filing of an application, and any charter
requirement related to an application's timely filing is superseded by
Section 143.007 and other applicable filing provisions prescribed by this
code. 

SECTION 6.  (a)  Provides that this Act takes effect September 1, 2003,
except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section. 

(b)  Effective date of Sections 1 and 5:  upon passage or September 1,
2003.