BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 1545

82R18167 DRH-D

By: Lewis (Watson)

 

State Affairs

 

5/4/2011

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law permits municipalities and certain other political subdivisions to move their elections to align with the November general election.  H.B. 401, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, changed the deadline for a governing body to change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the November uniform election date from December 31, 2005, to December 31, 2010.

 

Current law requires cities to hold council elections only on the spring uniform election date if the city has a population over 450,000 and the entire council is elected at large, the independent school district or community college service area is largely the same as the city limits, and the transit authority primarily serves the city with a population over 450,000 and council elected at large.  The only way for a city that meets these criteria to change the election date is to appeal to the legislature.

 

H.B. 1545 extends the deadline to December 31, 2012, giving subdivisions the opportunity to align their elections with the November general election.

 

H.B. 1545 amends current law relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to change the date of their general elections.

 

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 Sections 41.0052(a) and (a-1), Election Code, as follows:

 

(a) Authorizes 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, not later than December 31, 2012, rather than 2010, change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the November uniform election date.  Deletes existing text authorizing the governing body of a political subdivision other than a county, not later than December 31, 2005, to change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to another authorized uniform election date.

 

SECTION 2.  Repealer:  Section 41.0053 (Elections on Spring Uniform Date in Certain Political Subdivisions), Election Code.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.