BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 927

By: Huffman

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law authorizes the attorney general to investigate and prosecute conduct under the Election Code, while district and county attorneys generally investigate and prosecute conduct under the Penal Code.  The law that addresses the offense of tampering with an electronic voting machine is codified under the Penal Code.

S.B. 927 provides the attorney general with concurrent jurisdiction, with the consent of the local prosecutor, to investigate or prosecute a person for tampering with an electronic voting machine.

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

S.B. 927 amends the Penal Code to provide the attorney general, with the consent of the appropriate local county or district attorney, concurrent jurisdiction with that consenting local prosecutor to investigate or prosecute an offense of tampering with a direct recording electronic voting machine.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.