BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1631 85R8743 JCG-D By: King, Ken (Seliger) Intergovernmental Relations 5/13/2017 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Interested parties note that in a county with a small population it is sometimes burdensome to fulfill a petition requirement to qualify for a place on the ballot as a candidate for director of a hospital district. H.B. 1631 seeks to address this issue with regard to the Ochiltree County Hospital District by providing for a ballot application. H.B. 1631 amends current law relating to an election of the board of directors of the Ochiltree County Hospital District. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1071.053, Special District Local Laws Code, as follows: Sec. 1071.053. New heading: BALLOT APPLICATION. Requires a person who wants to have the person's name printed on the ballot as a candidate for director to file with the secretary of the board of directors of the Ochiltree County Hospital District (secretary) an application in accordance with Chapter 144 (Candidate for Office of Political Subdivision Other Than County or City), Election Code, rather than must file with the secretary a petition requesting that action. Deletes existing text requiring that the petition be signed by at least 25 registered voters and filed not later than the 25th day before the date of the election. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017. BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1631 85R8743 JCG-D By: King, Ken (Seliger) Intergovernmental Relations 5/13/2017 Engrossed Senate Research Center H.B. 1631 85R8743 JCG-D By: King, Ken (Seliger) Intergovernmental Relations 5/13/2017 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Interested parties note that in a county with a small population it is sometimes burdensome to fulfill a petition requirement to qualify for a place on the ballot as a candidate for director of a hospital district. H.B. 1631 seeks to address this issue with regard to the Ochiltree County Hospital District by providing for a ballot application. H.B. 1631 amends current law relating to an election of the board of directors of the Ochiltree County Hospital District. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1071.053, Special District Local Laws Code, as follows: Sec. 1071.053. New heading: BALLOT APPLICATION. Requires a person who wants to have the person's name printed on the ballot as a candidate for director to file with the secretary of the board of directors of the Ochiltree County Hospital District (secretary) an application in accordance with Chapter 144 (Candidate for Office of Political Subdivision Other Than County or City), Election Code, rather than must file with the secretary a petition requesting that action. Deletes existing text requiring that the petition be signed by at least 25 registered voters and filed not later than the 25th day before the date of the election. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.