BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 703

By: González, Jessica

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Election judges and clerks are currently only allotted one paid hour before a polling location opens to set up. Many election judges and clerks in Texas are older and may have difficulties setting up polling locations with voting machines in only one hour, which can delay the opening of polling locations. Election judges and clerks should not be forced to volunteer their time to set up a polling location if it would require more than one hour. H.B. 703 aims to increase the time that an election judge or clerk can be paid to set up before a polling location opens from one to two hours.

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. 703 amends the Election Code to increase from one to two the maximum number of hours for which an election judge or clerk may be paid for work completed before the polls open on tasks other than modifying the list of registered voters to conform to the registration correction list.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.