By: Larson H.B. No. 630

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the filling of vacancies on a political party's county executive committee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 171.024(b) and (c), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) A [Except as provided by Subsection (c), a] majority of the committee's membership must participate in filling a vacancy in the office of county chair. To be elected, a person must receive a favorable vote of a majority of the members voting.

(c) Each party shall adopt rules to determine a percentage of committee membership that constitutes a quorum for purposes of filling a [A] vacancy in the office of precinct chair. To be elected, a person must receive a favorable vote of a majority of the members voting [may be filled without participation of the majority of the committee membership if only one person is a candidate to fill the vacancy and the person:

[(1) was elected as a precinct chair in the most recent primary election in the county; and

[(2) is eligible to serve in the vacant office].

SECTION 2. Section 171.025, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) In a county with a population of less than 5,000, a vacancy in the office of county chair may be filled by appointment of a person who is not a resident of the county if:

(1) the person resides in a county in this state with a population of less than 5,000 that is adjacent to the county in which the vacancy occurs; and

(2) the secretary of state approves the appointment of the person under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.