BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 862
80R7389 JRJ-F By: Aycock, Heflin (Fraser)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
There are a number of occasions where a county party chair is unable to fulfill his or her term. Current statute provides that the state executive committee of a political party is to appoint a temporary chair in such instances. However, there are times when the committee is not scheduled to meet, thereby leaving the seat vacant for months at a time.
H.B. 862 authorizes the appointment of a temporary county chair by the state party chair, subject to ratification of the state executive committee at its next regular meeting.
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 171.027(b), Election Code, to require the state executive committee or the state chair to appoint a temporary county chair. Requires the state executive committee, if the state chair appoints a temporary county chair, to ratify the appointment of the temporary county chair or appoint another person as temporary county chair at its next regular meeting. Requires a favorable vote of a majority of the members of the committee voting for ratification or for an appointment. Deletes existing text requiring a person, in order to be appointed as a temporary county chair, to receive a favorable vote of a majority of the committee’s membership.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.