HBA-RBT H.B. 2276 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2276
By: Madden
Elections
3/29/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the primary filing deadline falls on January 2.  This is a date
that is generally considered to be the end of the holiday season.  It is
difficult for candidates and political party workers to complete the
necessary requirements and at the same time enjoy their holiday.  H.B. 2276
delays the primary filing deadline for one week in order to enable
candidates and political party workers to celebrate the holidays without
the pressure of an imminent filing deadline. 

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 Section 172.023, Election Code, to prohibit the filing
of an application for a place on the general ballot before December 1 of
the year, rather than the 30th day, prior to the date of the regular filing
deadline, and provide that the application must be filed before 6 p.m. on
January 9, rather than January 2, in the primary election year. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 172.028(b), Election Code, to require the state
chair to deliver the certification to the county chair in each county in
which a candidate's name is to appear on the ballot at least 50, rather
than 57, days before the general primary election day. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 172.052(a), Election Code, to prohibit a
candidate for nomination from withdrawing from the general primary election
within 55, rather than 62, days of the general primary election day. 

SECTION 4.  Provides that the deadline for filing an application for a
place on the general primary election ballot is extended to the 55th,
rather than 62nd, day if a candidate dies or withdraws or is declared
ineligible.  Provides that an application for an office sought by a
withdrawn, deceased, or ineligible candidate must be filed before 6 p.m. of
the 53rd, rather than 60th, day before the general primary election day. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 172.057, Election Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 172.058(a), Election Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 172.082(c), Election Code, to require that the
drawing for ballot order must be held by the 46th, rather than the 53rd,
day before the general primary election day. 

SECTION 8.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 9.  Emergency clause.