BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 563

81R4175 DRH-D                                                                                                  By: Jackson, Mike

State Affairs

3/9/2009

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law prohibits the designation of incumbency on primary ballots.

As proposed, S.B. 563 requires that incumbent candidates be designated as such on primary and primary runoff ballots in a manner prescribed by the secretary of state.

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 Subchapter D, Chapter 172, Election Code, by adding Section 172.0851, as follows:

Sec. 172.0851.  DESIGNATION OF INCUMBENCY FOR CANDIDATES.  Requires that a ballot, for each office that appears on the primary election ballot or a runoff primary election ballot, indicate a candidate who is an incumbent for that office adjacent to the candidate's name in a manner prescribed by the secretary of state.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2009.