BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 969

82R4587 CJC-F

By: Lewis (Seliger)

 

Intergovernmental Relations

 

5/6/2011

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, a petition to be placed on the ballot as a candidate for member of the board of directors of the Ector County Hospital District must be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on the 45th day before the date of the election.  Although the ballot petition is part of the candidate application process, the remainder of the application is due on the 62nd day before the date of the election.  H.B. 969 seeks to change this deadline to not later than 5:00 p.m. on the 62nd day before the date of the election in an effort to make the application process more streamlined and efficient.

 

H.B. 969 amends current law relating to the election of directors of the board of the Ector County Hospital District.

 

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 1024.053, Special District Local Laws Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 1024.053.  BALLOT PETITION.  Requires a person who wants to have the person's name printed on the ballot as a candidate for director to file with the board secretary a petition requesting that action.  Requires that the petition:

 

(1)  be signed by at least 50 registered voters of the district as determined by the most recent official list of registered voters;

 

(2)  be filed not later than 5 p.m. on the 62nd day, rather than the 45th day, before the date of the election; and

 

(3)  specify the commissioners precinct the candidate wants to represent or specify that the candidate wants to represent the district at large.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.