HBA-CBW S.B. 1464 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1464
By: Nelson
Elections
5/5/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires a person circulating a petition for a candidate's
place on a ballot to read certain statements in the petition to each person
who signs it and requires each part of a petition to include an affidavit
of the person who circulated it stating that the person pointed out and
read certain statements to each signer.  Many petitioners do not comply
with these requirements because they are difficult and timeconsuming to
meet.  Senate Bill 1464  provides that a person circulating a petition must
only be present when each signature is obtained and must include in  the
petition an affidavit attesting to that fact. 

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

Senate Bill 1464 amends the Election Code to provide that  a person
circulating a petition in connection with a candidate's application for a
place on a ballot for public office must be present when each signature is
obtained  rather than, before permitting a person to sign, point out and
read to the person each statement pertaining to the signer that appears on
the petition. The bill also provides that  each part of the petition must
include an affidavit of the person who circulated it stating that the
person was present when each signature was obtained, rather than stating
that the person pointed out and read to each signer, before the petition
was signed, each statement pertaining to the signer that appears on the
petition. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.