BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2029

By: Hughes

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that certain county and state officeholders elected to a regular term of office qualify for and assume the respective office on January 1 of the year following the election but contend that these officeholders-elect should be able to qualify for the office after the canvass of the vote and the winner is declared. The parties point out that this would allow the officeholders-elect to take the oath and participate in swearing-in ceremonies before the term officially begins on January 1 if the officeholder-elect chooses. H.B. 2029 seeks to allow for this earlier qualification for certain officeholders-elect.

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

H.B. 2029 amends the Government Code to change the time of qualification for elected office for a person elected to a regular term of a state, district, county, or precinct office, other than the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, or state representative, from January 1, or as soon as possible after January 1, of the year following the person's election to a time following the canvass of the vote for that office and the declaration of the result of the election.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.