BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1614

79R6509 JRJ-D                                                                                                 By: Denny (Duncan)

State Affairs

5/14/2005

Engrossed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In some counties, the county election officer who has contracted with the county party has denied the county party chair complete access to primary election activities, including access to the room where tabulation of votes occurs.

H.B. 1614 amends the Election Code to prohibit the county election officer, in an election in which a political party has contracted with the county to perform election services in the party's general or runoff election, from preventing the county chair of that political party or the chair's designee from supervising the conduct of the primary election, including the tabulation.

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 31.092, Election Code, by adding Subsection (d) to prohibit a county election officer, in a contract authorized by Subsection (b), from preventing the county chair or the chair's designee from supervising the conduct of the primary election, including the tabulation of results, as required by Chapter 172 (Primary Elections).

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.