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 Provides that an application for an office sought by a withdrawn, deceased, or ineligible candidate must be filed before 6 p.m. of the 53rd, rather than 60th, day before the general primary election day.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.