BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3119

By: Faircloth

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that differing time periods for early voting in certain runoff elections can be problematic and that standardizing provisions relating to the early voting period for certain runoff elections would be beneficial. H.B. 3119 seeks to address this issue.

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. 3119 amends the Election Code to require early voting by personal appearance at the main early voting polling place in a runoff election to be conducted for at least 12 hours on at least two weekdays. The bill makes the beginning date of the period for early voting by personal appearance for a special runoff election for the office of state senator or state representative or for a runoff primary election of the 10th day before election day applicable to all runoff elections.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.