HBA-DMH S.B. 1309 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1309 By: Staples Elections 5/18/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there are no provisions in Texas law that provide for an individual's ability to challenge a group of voters with a single affidavit or that stipulate whether or not the individual challenging a voter must possess specific personal knowledge that a challenged voter does not posses a specific qualification for remaining registered. Senate Bill 1309 adds requirements that a challenge to a voter's registration must be based upon personal knowledge of each challenged voter's lack of qualifications. 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. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 1309 amends the Election Code to provide that a voter filing a sworn statement to challenge the registration of another voter must properly identify each challenged voter in the sworn statement and must state a challenge, based upon personal knowledge, that each challenged voter does not possess a specific qualification for remaining registered. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.