BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1984

By: Huffman

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested observers point out that members of the house of representatives and the senate are required to review the votes for the governor and lieutenant governor after an election. Because of this, the governor and lieutenant governor are sworn in on the Tuesday following the swearing in of the house of representatives and senate. These observers contend that the work of the governor and lieutenant governor is impeded by the later swearing in date and that the attorney general could review the canvass results instead. S.B. 1984 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

S.B. 1984 amends the Election Code to transfer from the legislature to the attorney general the responsibility for canvassing the county election returns of an election for the office of governor or lieutenant governor.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2018, if the constitutional amendment providing for the governor's and lieutenant governor's terms of office to begin at 10 a.m. on the day preceding the day the regular legislative session convenes is approved by the voters.