BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2006

By: Klick

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law does not permit an employee of a political subdivision that adopts or owns the electronic voting system for which a counting station is established to be appointed as the  counting station manager unless the employee is a registered voter in that political subdivision. Interested parties assert that this outdated policy was established when most entities conducted their own separate elections and that most political subdivisions now contract with the county to conduct elections. Such parties further assert that, as voting systems become more technologically advanced, experienced personnel are needed to ensure that the election process runs smoothly. H.B. 2006 seeks to provide for such experienced personnel by allowing an employee of a political subdivision that adopts or owns the voting system to be appointed as the central counting station manager, regardless of that employee's voter registration status.

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. 2006 amends the Election Code to exempt an employee of a political subdivision that adopts or owns an electronic voting system from the requirement that a person be a registered voter of the political subdivision served by the authority establishing a central counting station in order to be eligible for appointment as the counting station's manager.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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