BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2157
	By: Miller (Bettencourt)
	State Affairs
	5/16/2017
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 2157 amends the Election Code to require a candidate's signed and sworn application for a place on the ballot to be signed and sworn to before a notary public and to require that the affidavit of the circulator of a petition for a place on the ballot included with each part of the petition be executed before a notary public.

 

H.B. 2157 amends current law relating to the requirements for a candidate's application or petition for a place on the ballot.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 141.031(a), Election Code, to require that a candidate's application for a place on the ballot that is required by this code be signed and sworn to before a person authorized to administer oaths in this state, rather than signed and sworn to, by the candidate and indicate the date that the candidate swears to the application.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 141.065, Election Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:

 

(a) Require that each part of a petition include an affidavit of the person who circulated it, executed before a person authorized to administer oaths in this state, rather than include an affidavit of the person who circulated it, stating certain information.

 

(c) Provides that a single notarized affidavit by any person who obtained signatures is valid for all signatures gathered by the person if the date of notarization is on or after the date of the last signature obtained by the person.

 

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2017.