HBA-JLV H.B. 2884 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2884
By: Gallego
Judicial Affairs
4/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, candidates for judicial office are not able to seek the
nomination for a place on the ballot with more than one political party
during the same voting year.  The Texas Judicial Council has recommended
that a candidate for office to the supreme court, the court of criminal
appeals, a court of appeals, a district court, or a statutory county court
be permitted to file for the nomination of more than one party.  House Bill
2884 authorizes a candidate for a judicial office to seek the nomination in
the primary election or by the convention of more than one political party. 

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 2884 amends the Election Code to authorize a candidate for a
judicial office to seek nomination in the primary election or by the
convention of more than one political party.  The bill also authorizes a
candidate in the general election for state and county officers to seek
election as the nominee of one or more parties.  If a judicial candidate's
name appears on the ballot more than once for the same office, the bill
requires that the votes received in each position be added together to
determine the total number of votes received by the candidate for that
office.  The bill requires the secretary of state to prescribe any
additional procedures necessary to implement these provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.