HBA-RBT, MAJ H.B. 736 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 736 By: Denny Elections 3/4/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent voter apathy and election worker fatigue has been attributed in part to the number of different days on which elections are held throughout the year in Texas. Many types of local elections are not required to be held on the uniform election dates prescribed by law. H.B. 736 restricts the number of exceptions to the uniform election date requirements and thereby reduces the number of days on which elections may be held. 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 41.001(b), Election Code, to delete the following from the list of elections which are exempt from the requirement in Subsection (a) (Uniform Election Dates) that each general or special election in this state be held on the third Saturday in January, the first Saturday in May, the second Saturday in August, or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November: _a local option election held under the Alcoholic Beverage Code; _an election for the issuance or assumption of bonds or the levy of a tax for the maintenance of a public school or college, if the governing body of the political subdivision issuing or assuming the bonds or levying the tax, by resolution, order, or ordinance, finds that holding the election on a date other than a uniform election date is in the public interest, which finding is conclusive and incontestable; _an election held by a political subdivision using the convention method of election; and _an election to recall an officer of a political subdivision. Makes conforming changes. Redesignates Subdivisions (5)-(10) to Subdivisions (3)-(6). SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.