BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1163

79R5008 JRJ-D                                                                                                    By: Denny (Harris)

State Affairs

5/9/2005

Engrossed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Legislation enacted during the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, raised the general primary filing fee for candidates for all offices.  The legislation included the filing fee for a county clerk, county tax assessor-collector, sheriff, and county treasurer in the fee bracket for a county commissioner or judge for a constitutional county court.  District clerks, whose duties are similar to those of county clerks, were left off of this group of officials, and their filing fee remained at a lower amount prescribed for "other offices" of the county government.  The Texas District Court Alliance, on behalf of district clerks, requested that this oversight be corrected and that their fee be linked to the fee for other county officials, such as county clerks and count tax assessor-collectors.  H.B. 1163 sets the filing fee for district clerks to correspond with the fee for such offices. 

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 172.024(a), Election Code, provide filing fees for a candidate for nomination in the general primary election, including a $1,250 fee for a district clerk candidate. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2005.