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.