BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 957
	By: Campbell; Hinojosa
	State Affairs
	6/9/2017
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, there is no provision requiring the state and local municipalities to have differing names or numbered propositions on the ballot during the same election cycle. This often leads to confusion and uncertainty for the average voter. S.B. 957 allows the secretary of state to set their proposition numbering system for an election first and then prohibits any local municipality from using the same numbering or identifying system.

S.B. 957 amends current law relating to the content and numbering of propositions 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 52.095, Election Code, as follows:

Sec. 52.095. PROPOSITIONS. (a). Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes to this subsection.

(b) Requires that each political subdivision�s proposition on the ballot be assigned a unique number or letter on the ballot as follows:

(1) except as provided by Subdivision (2), for each proposition on the ballot, the authority ordering the election (authority) is required to 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 is required to assign a number to the measure that corresponds to its order on the ballot.

(d) Requires the Texas secretary of state to prescribe procedures necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 274, Election Code, by adding Section 274.004, as follows:

Sec. 274.004. PROPOSITION BALLOT ORDER. Requires that a proposed constitutional amendment be placed on the ballot before all other propositions.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.