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AN ACT
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relating to holding a primary election for a political party in a |
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county without party leadership. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 172.128, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 172.128. ALTERNATIVE PRIMARY PROCEDURE FOR COUNTIES |
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WITHOUT COUNTY PARTY LEADERSHIP. (a) Notwithstanding a |
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conflicting provision of this code, [This section applies only to] |
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a primary election that is required for the nomination of a |
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political party to a statewide office or a presidential primary |
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election shall be held in accordance with this section in a county |
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in which: |
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(1) the office of county chair is vacant and there is |
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an insufficient number of members serving on the county executive |
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committee to fill a vacancy on the committee; and |
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(2) the party is unable to establish a temporary |
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executive committee under Section 171.027. |
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(b) On request of the [The] state chair of a political |
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party, [may contract with] a county clerk, county tax |
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assessor-collector, or county elections administrator, as |
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appropriate, shall contract with the state chair to hold a primary |
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election under this section [in a county in which:
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[(1)
the office of county chair is vacant and there is
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an insufficient number of members serving on the county executive
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committee to fill a vacancy on the committee; and
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[(2)
the party is unable to establish a temporary
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executive committee under Section 171.027]. |
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(c) The county may designate the location of the polling |
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place for an election held under this section at the main early |
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voting polling place or designate a location to serve as a polling |
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place in the county seat of the county if the polling place is |
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located so that it will adequately serve the voters. |
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(d) Voting shall be conducted at least during the hours that |
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the county clerk's main business office is regularly open for |
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business. |
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(e) The election returns for an election held under this |
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section shall be delivered to the state chair of the applicable |
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political party. |
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(f) A precinct convention is not required to be held |
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following a primary election conducted under this section. |
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(g) A contract for election services entered into under this |
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section shall provide that the county shall be eligible to be |
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reimbursed for primary election expenses in the same manner a |
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county chair would be reimbursed under Subchapter D, Chapter 173. |
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(h) Election officers appointed to serve a polling place for |
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a primary election conducted under this section may be affiliated |
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or aligned with any political party. |
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(i) The secretary of state shall adopt rules to implement |
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this section in accordance with the conduct of elections and with |
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party rule. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1448 passed the Senate on |
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April 30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1448 passed the House on |
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May 19, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 1, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |