85R8045 JRJ-D
By: Vo H.B. No. 3530
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to action by the state chair of a political party in the
conduct of a primary election.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 172, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 172.129 to read as follows:
Sec. 172.129. ACTION BY STATE CHAIR TO MEET DEADLINES FOR
CONDUCT OF PRIMARY. (a) Notwithstanding a conflicting provision
of this code, the state chair, or the state chair's designee, may
perform any administrative duty of the county chair or county
executive committee related to the conduct of a primary election
that has not been performed in the time required by law, including
the submission of candidate information under Section 172.029,
drawing for ballot order under Sections 172.082 and 172.084, and
canvassing returns under Section 172.116.
(b) The state chair must notify the county chair or county
executive committee in writing or electronically that a duty has
been performed under the authority of this section.
(c) If a county chair has a reasonable impediment or lacks
appropriate technology to perform any administrative duty of the
county chair related to the conduct of a primary election within the
time required by law, the county chair may request the state chair,
or the state chair's designee, perform the duty instead of the
county chair.
(d) The state chair may act in the role of the county chair
for the purposes of Subchapter D, Chapter 173, with the approval of
the secretary of state.
(e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to implement
this section in accordance with the conduct of elections and with
party rule.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.