BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2847

By: Riddle

Elections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires county election precincts to be used as precincts for any political subdivision except in Harris County which is exempt due to a population requirement.  This exemption has raised concerns that obscure polling places can be selected to affect election outcomes.

C.S.H.B. 2847 specifies that a provision designating county election precincts as the election precincts for any election held on the November uniform election date, with certain elections exceptions, applies to any election of a political subdivision, other than a conservation or reclamation district that is located in a county with a population of more than 3.3 million or a county adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million.  The bill removes language making this provision applicable to an election for a school district located in any county.

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

C.S.H.B. 2847 amends the Election Code to specify that a provision designating county election precincts as the election precincts for any election held on the November uniform election date applies to any other election of a political subdivision, other than a conservation or reclamation district that is located in a county with a population of more than 3.3 million or a county adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million, rather than to any other election of a political subdivision held on that date, other than a school district, that is not located in such a county.  The bill removes language establishing that the county election precincts are the election precincts for an election for a school district located in any county, and makes technical corrections.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2847 differs from the original by specifying that a provision designating county election precincts as the election precincts for any election held on the November uniform election date, with certain exceptions, applies to any election of a political subdivision, other than a conservation or reclamation district that is located in a county with a population of more than 3.3 million or a county adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million, whereas the original specifies that the provision applies to any election of a political subdivision held on the November uniform election date and removes language making the provision inapplicable to a school district in any county and a political subdivision, other than a school district, in such a county.