BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 401

By: Raymond

Elections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law permits certain bodies of government to alter their scheduled general election day to another authorized date.  Currently, the deadline for a governing body to change that date -- December 31, 2005 -- has lapsed. 

C.S.H.B. 401 allows the governing body of a political subdivision, other than a county, that holds its general election for officers on a date other than the November uniform election date to change, not later than December 31, 2010, the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the November uniform election date.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this substitute does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 401 amends the Election Code to authorize the governing body of a political subdivision, other than a county, that holds its general election for officers on a date other than the November uniform election date to change, not later than December 31, 2010, the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the November uniform election date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 401 differs from the original by specifying that the authorization for a governing body to change the date on which a  political subdivision, other than a county, holds its general election for officers applies to a political subdivision that holds such an election on a date other than the November uniform election date and that the change of date is to the November uniform election date, whereas the original does not limit the authorization to such a political subdivision and provides that the change of date is to another uniform election date.