BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 273

By: Gonzales, Larry

Elections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that a lack of attribution for ballot measures proposed by different authorities could result in confusion for voters. C.S.H.B. 273 seeks to reduce any potential confusion by requiring each proposition on a ballot for an election in which more than one measure is to be voted on to be identified in certain manners.

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. 273 amends the Election Code to require the authority ordering an election in which more than one measure is to be voted on, for each proposition on the ballot, to assign a letter of the alphabet to the measure that corresponds to its order on the ballot except, for each proposition on the ballot to be voted on statewide, to assign a number to the measure that corresponds to its order on the ballot. The bill requires each proposition on the ballot in which more than one measure is to be voted on to identify the name of the authority ordering the election on the measure. The bill requires the secretary of state to prescribe procedures necessary to implement these provisions.

C.S.H.B. 273 requires a proposed constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot before all other propositions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 273 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 52.095, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 52.095.  PROPOSITIONS.  (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the authority ordering an election in which more than one measure is to be voted on shall determine the order in which the propositions are to appear on the ballot. (b)  Each proposition on the ballot must identify the name of the authority ordering the election on the measure and assign a number to the measure that corresponds to the order in which it is placed on the ballot. (c)  The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures necessary to implement this section.	SECTION 1.  Section 52.095, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 52.095.  PROPOSITIONS.  (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the authority ordering an election in which more than one measure is to be voted on shall determine the order in which the propositions are to appear on the ballot and identify them as follows: (1)  except as provided by Subdivision (2), for each proposition on the ballot, the authority ordering the election shall assign a letter of the alphabet to the measure that corresponds to its order on the ballot; and (2)  for each proposition on the ballot to be voted on statewide, the authority ordering the election shall assign a number to the measure that corresponds to its order on the ballot. (b)  Each proposition on the ballot must identify the name of the authority ordering the election on the measure. (c)  The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures necessary to implement this section.
No equivalent provision.	SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 274, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 274.004 to read as follows: Sec. 274.004.  PROPOSITION BALLOT ORDER.  A proposed constitutional amendment must be placed on the ballot before all other propositions.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.