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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the removal of a precinct or county chair for |
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abandonment of office. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 171, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 171.029 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 171.029. REMOVAL OF PRECINCT CHAIR OR COUNTY CHAIR FOR |
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ABANDONMENT OF OFFICE. (a) A precinct or county chair who has |
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failed to perform statutory duties provided by this code or failed |
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to attend four or more consecutive meetings of the county executive |
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committee may be removed for abandonment of office as provided by |
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this section. |
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(b) If authorized by a resolution passed by the county |
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executive committee, a county chair may send a notice to a precinct |
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chair that states that the precinct chair is considered to have |
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abandoned the office of precinct chair and the duties of the office. |
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The notice must: |
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(1) state the reasons the county executive committee |
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believes the precinct chair has abandoned the office; |
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(2) be sent by certified mail; and |
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(3) request a response from the precinct chair not |
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later than the seventh day after the date the precinct chair |
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receives the notice. |
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(c) If authorized by a resolution passed by the state |
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executive committee, a state chair may send a notice to a county |
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chair that states that the county chair is considered to have |
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abandoned the office of county chair and the duties of the office. |
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The notice must: |
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(1) state the reasons the state executive committee |
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believes the county chair has abandoned the office; |
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(2) be sent by certified mail; and |
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(3) request a response from the county chair not later |
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than the seventh day after the date the county chair receives the |
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notice. |
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(d) A precinct or county chair must respond to a notice |
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under Subsection (b) or (c) on or before the seventh day after the |
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date the chair receives the notice and state whether the chair |
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wishes to continue in office. A chair's failure to respond and |
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affirmatively state that the chair wishes to remain in office |
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results in a vacancy in the office of precinct or county chair, as |
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applicable. The vacancy shall be filled as provided by this |
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subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |