BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2323
85R25057 JRJ-D	By: Israel (Zaffirini)
	State Affairs
	5/17/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, the deadline for an application for a place on the ballot for a special election to fill a vacancy in office held on the date of the general election for state and county officers is unclear. H.B. 2323 would add clarity to the statute by amending the Election Code to specify that the filing deadline for such an election to be held on the date of the general election for state and county officers is 6 p.m. of the 75th day before election day. H.B. 2323 also requires a declaration of write-in candidacy for a special election to fill a vacancy in office to be filed not later than the applicable filing deadline for an application for a place on a special election ballot.

H.B. 2323 amends current law relating to the filing period for a place on the ballot in a special election to fill a vacancy.

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 201.054, Election Code, by amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (g), as follows:

(f) Provides that for a special election to be held on the date of the general election for state and county officers, the filing deadline is 6 p.m. of the 75th day before election day, rather than the day of the filing deadline is the 75th day before election day.

(g) Requires that a declaration of write-in candidacy for a special election be filed not later than the filing deadline prescribed by this section (Filing Period for Application for Place on Ballot).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017. �