BILL ANALYSIS
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
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. Recently 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. House Bill 2069 requires county election officials to offer to contract with all political parties holding a primary election, if they enter into a contract with one of the parties.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
House Bill 2069 amends the Election Code by providing that a county election officer who enters into a contract with the county executive committee of a political party to provide primary election services must offer to contract on the same terms with the county executive committee of each political party holding a primary election in the county.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.