HBA-MPM H.B. 2395 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2395
By: Denny
Elections
3/28/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Sections 85.002 (Main Early Voting Polling Place) and 127.006 (Counting
Station Clerks), Election Code do not specify that political parties are
allowed equal representation at the main early voting polling places and
election counting station.  H.B. 2395 amends these sections to require
equal representation of political parties at the main early voting polling
places and election counting station. 

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 85.002, Election Code, by adding Subsection (e),
as follows: 

(e)  Provides that election officers serving at a main early voting polling
place must be affiliated or aligned with different political parties to the
extent possible in the following: 

_a primary election
_the general election for state and county officers, or
_a special election to fill a vacancy in the legislature or congress.

Requires the secretary of state, after consulting with the state chair of
each affected political party, to prescribe procedures necessary to
implement this subsection. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 127.006(a), Election Code, to make conforming
changes. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.