BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1866

By: Klick

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that current state law requires that the chair and vice chair of a political party consist of one man and one woman and point out that a high court decision has held that states cannot impose these kind of rules on political parties. H.B. 1866 seeks to remove the gender requirements for these party positions.

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

H.B. 1866 amends the Election Code to remove the requirement that either the chair or vice chair of the state executive committee for a political party nominating by primary election be a man and the other member be a woman.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.