88R1421 MLH-D
 
  By: DeAyala H.B. No. 1849
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the appointment of election clerks.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 32.031, Election Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 32.031.  JUDGES [PRESIDING JUDGE] TO APPOINT CLERKS.
         SECTION 2.  Section 32.031, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except for the election clerk appointed by the alternate
  presiding judge under Subsection (a-1), the [The] presiding judge
  for each election precinct shall appoint the election clerks to
  assist the judge in the conduct of an election at the polling place
  served by the judge.
         (a-1)  The alternate presiding judge for each election
  precinct shall appoint one election clerk to assist the alternate
  presiding judge in the conduct of an election at the polling place
  served by the alternate presiding judge.
         SECTION 3.  Section 32.033, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 32.033.  NUMBER OF CLERKS. (a) The authority that
  appoints the election judges shall prescribe the maximum number of
  clerks that each presiding judge and alternate presiding judge may
  appoint for each election. The authority may prescribe different
  maximums for different types of elections.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (c) and
  (d), the presiding judge shall appoint at least one clerk and the
  alternate presiding judge shall appoint one clerk [two clerks] for
  each precinct in each election. The presiding judge [and] may
  appoint as many additional clerks, within the prescribed limit, as
  are necessary for the proper conduct of the election.
         (c)  In each election ordered by the governor or a county
  authority in which the regular county election precincts are
  required to be used, in addition to the clerk appointed by the
  alternate presiding judge the presiding judge shall appoint clerks
  for each precinct in the number, within the prescribed limit, the
  judge considers necessary for the proper conduct of the election.
         (d)  In a county with a population of more than one million,
  the alternate presiding judge shall appoint at least one clerk. The
  presiding judge and alternate presiding judge shall each appoint
  the same number of clerks to the extent possible given the total
  number of clerks to be appointed.
         SECTION 4.  Section 32.034, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b), (d), and (e) and adding Subsection (b-1)
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The county chair of a political party whose candidate
  for governor received the highest or second highest number of votes
  in the county in the most recent gubernatorial general election
  may, not later than the 25th day before a general election or the
  10th day before a special election to which Subsection (a) applies,
  submit to a presiding judge and alternate presiding judge a list
  containing the names of at least two persons who are eligible for
  appointment as a clerk. If a timely list is submitted, the presiding
  judge shall appoint at least one clerk from the list and the
  alternate presiding judge shall appoint one clerk from the list[,
  except as provided by Subsection (c)].
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), in a county with a
  population of more than one million, the alternate presiding judge
  shall appoint at least one clerk. The presiding judge and alternate
  presiding judge shall each appoint the same number of clerks to the
  extent possible given the total number of clerks to be appointed.
         (d)  The presiding judge and the alternate presiding judge
  shall make an appointment under this section not later than the
  fifth day after the date the judge receives the list and shall
  deliver written notification of the appointment to the appropriate
  county chair.
         (e)  If a presiding judge and an alternate presiding judge
  have [has] not been appointed at the time the county chair of a
  political party is required to submit a list of names for the
  appointment of a clerk under this section, the list of names shall
  be submitted to the county chair of the political party whose
  candidate for governor received the most votes in the precinct in
  the most recent gubernatorial election and to the commissioners
  court. The county chair, or the commissioners court in a county
  without a county chair, shall appoint clerks from the list in the
  same manner provided for a presiding judge and an alternate
  presiding judge to appoint clerks by this section.
         SECTION 5.  Section 32.034(c), Election Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.