BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1109
	By: Birdwell
	State Affairs
	6/6/2017
	Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The City of Cresson has expressed the desire to change their municipal election date from November to May. By moving the municipal election from November to May, the City of Cresson will save money.

 

Cresson is a Type A city with a population of less than 1,500. The City of Cresson is located in three counties: Hood, Johnson, and Parker. If the city's election is in November, then it will have to have at least one voting machine and two personnel in each county (this costs money). In addition, the city will have to bear the cost necessary to train each person on the voting machine, the cost of the machine, the cost of extra personnel, and the cost of registering with each county.

 

Should the city conduct its election in May, these costs would be substantially reduced and county voting machines would be available. The city estimates its cost to hold a November election at approximately $25,000.00 (which you can imagine is a significant amount for a city of less than 1,500), while, in the alternative, its estimate for a May election is less than $5,000.00. May elections often do not have the electronic voting machine, polling place, and staffing requirements that are needed in November. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

S.B. 1109 amends current law relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to change the date of the general election for officers.

 

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 41.0052, Election Code, by adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), as follows:

 

(a-1) Authorizes the governing body of a municipality that is intersected by State Highway 171 and U.S. Highway 377 and that holds its general election for officers on the November uniform election date to, not later than December 31, 2018, change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the May uniform election date. Provides that this subsection expires January 1, 2019.

 

(a-2) Authorizes the governing body of a political subdivision, other than a county, located in a county that contains an intersection of U.S. Highway 277 and U.S. Highway 180 and that holds its general election for officers on the November uniform election date, not later than December 31, 2018, to change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to the May uniform election date. Provides that this subsection expires January 1, 2019.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.