HBA-BSM H.B. 1117 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1117
By: Goodman
Judicial Affairs
7/9/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not require a candidate for the Supreme Court of Texas or
the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to file a petition with a minimum
number of signatures with the filing fee for a place on the general primary
election ballot for either court.  If candidates for these offices submit
100 signatures from five senatorial districts, it would indicate a measure
of statewide and regional support for their candidacy.  House Bill 1117
requires candidates to submit 100 signatures of registered voters from five
senatorial districts with the filing fee.  

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

House Bill 1117 amends the Election Code to provide that judicial
candidates for positions on the Supreme Court of Texas or the Texas Court
of Criminal Appeals who choose to pay the filing fee must also accompany
the application with a petition with a minimum of 100 signatures each  from
five state senatorial districts. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Vetoed.