HBA-NLM, BTC H.B. 737 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 737
By: Denny
Elections
3/5/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, many types of elections are not required to be held on the
uniform election dates prescribed by law. As school districts generally
address tax rate and other budget issues early in the fall, a September
uniform date would accommodate special elections such as bond elections.
H.B. 737 changes the date that each general or special election is held
from the second Saturday in August to the third Saturday in September.   

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(a), Election Code, to provide that,
except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, one of the four
established dates in which each general or special state election is
required to be held, has changed to the third Saturday in September, rather
than the second Saturday in August.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 41.0052(a), Election Code, to establish that
December 31, 1999, rather than December 31, 1997 is the final date by which
the governing body of a political subdivision other than a county may
change the date on which it holds its general election for officers to
another authorized uniform election date is.  Provides that an election on
the new date may not be held before  the year 2000, rather than 1998. 

SECTION 3.  Provides an election held on the August 1999, uniform election
date, is subject to the prior law governing the election, and prior law is
continued in effect for that purpose.  Provides that Section 41.006,
Election Code (Adjusting Election Schedule), applies to a change in
election dates made in accordance with this Act. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.