HBA-DMH H.B. 2792 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2792 By: Raymond Elections 4/16/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law provides that the early voting period begins 17 days before election day and continues through the fourth day before election day. To help improve voter turnout, House Bill 2792 authorizes an authority ordering an election to begin early voting not earlier than the 31st day or later than the 17th day before election day. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the secretary of state in SECTION 1 (Section 85.001, Election Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2792 amends the Election Code to authorize the authority ordering an election to order early voting by personal appearance to begin not earlier than the 31st day or later than the 17th day before election day. The bill requires the secretary of state by rule to modify related dates, deadlines, or procedures as necessary to implement these provisions. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.