BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 2027

By: Bonnen, Greg

Elections

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Many Texas residents, particularly those in suburban and urban communities, may be qualified voters in more than one political subdivision or district. Interested parties assert that the large number of entities holding elections at various times and in various polling places may lead to confusion for voters who believe they are familiar with their standard voting location. C.S.H.B. 2027 seeks to reduce this confusion regarding the location of voting precincts for elections held on a uniform election date.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 2027 amends the Election Code to remove from a provision requiring certain political subdivisions to use the regular county election precincts in an election held on the November uniform election date the specification that the uniform election date is in November. The bill expressly does not apply this provision to an election held on the May uniform election date by a political subdivision that conducts early voting by personal appearance at each permanent or temporary branch polling place on the same days and during the same hours as voting is conducted at the main early voting polling place. The bill removes the provision excepting certain special districts located in a county with a population of more than 3.3 million or a county adjacent to such a county from the provision establishing that county election precincts are the county precincts for certain elections held by a political subdivision. The bill revises a provision requiring certain political subdivisions to designate as the polling places for any election the subdivision holds on the November uniform election date the regular county polling places in the county election precincts that contain territory from the political subdivision, to remove the specification that the uniform election date is in November. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 2027 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Section 42.002(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

 

 

(a)  The county election precincts are the election precincts for the following elections:

(1)  the general election for state and county officers;

(2)  a special election ordered by the governor;

(3)  a primary election;

(4)  a countywide election ordered by the commissioners court, county judge, or other county authority, except an election subject to Section 42.062(2); and

(5)  as provided by Section 42.0621, any other election held by [on the November uniform election date of] a political subdivision on a uniform election date[, other than a district that is created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and is located in a county with a population of more than 3.3 million or a county adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million].

 

SECTION 1.  Section 42.002, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(a)  The county election precincts are the election precincts for the following elections:

(1)  the general election for state and county officers;

(2)  a special election ordered by the governor;

(3)  a primary election;

(4)  a countywide election ordered by the commissioners court, county judge, or other county authority, except an election subject to Section 42.062(2); and

(5)  as provided by Section 42.0621, any other election held by [on the November uniform election date of] a political subdivision on a uniform election date[, other than a district that is created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and is located in a county with a population of more than 3.3 million or a county adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million].

(c)  Subsection (a)(5) does not apply to an election held on the May uniform election date by a political subdivision that conducts early voting by personal appearance at each permanent or temporary branch polling place on the same days and during the same hours as voting is conducted at the main early voting polling place.

 

SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 42.0621, Election Code, is amended.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 3.  Section 42.0621(a), Election Code, is amended.

 

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 4.  Section 43.004(b), Election Code, is amended.

 

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

SECTION 5. Same as introduced version.