BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 3965
86R33316 GRM-D	By: Bohac (Huffman)
	State Affairs
	5/13/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Long lines and delays caused by temporary closures of countywide polling places on election day due to technical difficulties or problems with the facilities used as a polling place. H.B. 3965 seeks to address these concerns for counties participating in the countywide polling place program by requiring each countywide polling place to post a notice relating to the distance to other nearby polling places and providing for all countywide polling places to remain open for the same length of time under certain circumstances.

H.B. 3965 amends the Election Code to require each countywide polling place to post a notice of the four nearest countywide polling place locations by driving distance. The bill requires all countywide polling places, if a court orders any countywide polling place to remain open after 7 p.m., to remain open for the length of time required in the court order. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.H.B. 3965 amends current law relating to the countywide polling place program.

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 43.007, Election Code, by adding Subsections (o) and (p), as follows:

(o) Requires each countywide polling place to post a notice of the four nearest countywide polling place locations by driving distance.

(p) Provides that if a court orders any countywide polling place to remain open after 7 p.m., all countywide polling places located in that county are required to remain open for the length of time required in the court order.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.