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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to action by the state chair of a political party in the |
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conduct of a primary election. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 172, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 172.129 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 172.129. ACTION BY STATE CHAIR TO MEET DEADLINES FOR |
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CONDUCT OF PRIMARY. (a) Notwithstanding a conflicting provision |
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of this code, the state chair, or the state chair's designee, may |
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perform any administrative duty of the county chair or county |
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executive committee related to the conduct of a primary election |
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that has not been performed in the time required by law, including |
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the submission of candidate information under Section 172.029, |
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drawing for ballot order under Sections 172.082 and 172.084, and |
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canvassing returns under Section 172.116. |
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(b) The state chair must notify the county chair or county |
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executive committee in writing or electronically that a duty has |
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been performed under the authority of this section. |
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(c) If a county chair has a reasonable impediment or lacks |
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appropriate technology to perform any administrative duty of the |
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county chair related to the conduct of a primary election within the |
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time required by law, the county chair may request the state chair, |
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or the state chair's designee, perform the duty instead of the |
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county chair. |
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(d) The state chair may act in the role of the county chair |
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for the purposes of Subchapter D, Chapter 173, with the approval of |
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the secretary of state. |
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(e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to implement |
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this section in accordance with the conduct of elections and with |
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party rule. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |