BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 2069

79R5958 DRH-D                                                                                          By: Anderson (Averitt)

                                                                                                                                       State Affairs

                                                                                                                                            5/10/2005

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, county election officers are authorized to contract with a political party to provide election services for the primary election.  Current law does not require, however, that the county contract with more than one party.  In some counties, election officers have entered into a contract with one party but refused to do so with the other party.  The services of the county election officers should be available to all political parties holding a primary election, and the decision to contract should not be a partisan one.  H.B. 2069 requires county election officials to offer to contract with all political parties holding a primary election if they inter into a contract with one of the parties.

 

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 require a county election officer, if the officer enters into a contract with a county executive committee under Subsection (b) to perform election services, to offer to contract on the same terms with the county executive committee of each political party holding a primary election in the county.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2005.