BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 802

By: Huberty

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that there is a need for clarification regarding voting rights and eligibility for office of residents of certain districts subject to a strategic partnership agreement. H.B. 802 seeks to provide such clarification.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 802 amends the Local Government Code to entitle the qualified voters of a conservation and reclamation district any part of which is annexed for limited purposes under a strategic partnership agreement for the continuation of the district to vote in municipal elections as provided by state law for qualified voters of an area annexed for limited purposes. The bill makes a resident of such a district ineligible to be a candidate for or to be elected to a municipal office. The bill establishes that, if the district includes area located in more than one municipality, a qualified voter of a district is not entitled to vote in municipal elections under the bill's provisions if the voter is a resident of a municipality other than the municipality subject to the strategic partnership agreement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.