BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 1229
86R20477 SRS-D	By: Bettencourt
	State Affairs
	4/5/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the results of an election associated with an independent school district or local government, especially a tax ratification election, are not readily accessible. This leads to a less informed citizenry. To best ensure an informed public, especially as it relates to taxes and tax levies imposed on the taxpayer by an independent school district and local government, S.B. 1229 provides for cities, counties or independent school districts that maintain a website, the need to place election results on their website, no more than two clicks away from their homepage. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.S.B. 1229 amends current law relating to a county, city, or independent school district posting election results on an Internet website.

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 65, Election Code, by adding Section 65.016, as follows:

Sec. 65.016. INTERNET POSTING OF ELECTION RESULTS. (a) Requires a county that holds or provides election services for an election and maintains an Internet website to post on its public Internet website for an election administered by the county the results of each election, the total number of votes cast, and the total number of votes cast for each candidate or for or against each measure.

(b) Requires a city or independent school district that holds an election and maintains an Internet website to post on its public Internet website for the city or independent school district, as applicable, the results of each election, the total number of votes cast, and the total number of votes cast for each candidate or for or against each measure.

(c) Requires the information described by Subsections (a) and (b) to be provided as soon as practicable after the election and to be accessible without having to make more than two selections or view more than two network locations after accessing the Internet website home page of the county, city, or district, as applicable.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.