HBA-GUM, TYH H.B. 1053 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1053
By: Yarbrough
Elections
6/21/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require the election process to be
accessible to voters with disabilities.  To ensure that Texas voting
systems are in compliance, this bill incorporates the federal mandate into
the Texas statute. H.B. 1053 requires a voting system to comply with
federal law and provides voters with physical disabilities a practical and
effective means of casting a secret ballot. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 122, Election Code, by adding
Section 122.0011, to provide that a voting system that is acquired on or
after September 1, 1999, must comply with Section 504 of the federal
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794) (Nondiscrimination under
Federal Grants and Programs) and its subsequent amendments and Title II of
the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C.  Section 12131 et
seq.) (Definitions) and its subsequent amendments, and provide a practical
and effective means for voters with physical disabilities to cast a secret
ballot.  

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.