TITLE: Relating to the time of holding precinct conventions in certain counties.

SUMMARY: Relating to the time of holding precinct conventions in certain counties.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the time of holding precinct conventions in certain counties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 163.006(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A rule on electoral affairs that is to become effective in a year in which the party will hold precinct conventions under this title must be filed with the secretary of state not later than the 30th day before the date the party convenes its earliest [of convening the] precinct conventions. The secretary of state may extend this deadline for good cause. SECTION 2. Section 174.021, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 174.021. SELECTION OF DELEGATES TO COUNTY AND SENATORIAL DISTRICT CONVENTIONS. (a) The delegates to a political party's county and senatorial district conventions held under this chapter shall be selected in accordance with party rules at precinct conventions held as provided by this subchapter. (b) A political party may by rule allow a county with a population of 25,000 or less to hold precinct conventions before the county convention on the same day and at the same place as the county convention. The rule may modify other provisions of this subchapter as necessary for the county to hold precinct conventions as provided by this subsection. SECTION 3. Section 174.022, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) The county executive committee shall set the hour for convening precinct conventions under Section 174.021(b) for each precinct served by the committee. If the committee fails to do so, the county chair shall, consistent with that section, set the hour. SECTION 4. Section 174.093, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 174.093. NOTICE OF TIME AND PLACE. Before the date of the party's primary election [precinct conventions held under this chapter],the state chair shall deliver written notice of the date, hour, and place for convening the biennial state convention to the secretary of state, each county chair, and each temporary chair of a senatorial district convention. SECTION 5. Section 181.005(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) To be entitled to have the names of its nominees placed on the general election ballot, a political party required to make nominations by convention must file with the secretary of state, not later than the 75th day after the date of the earliest precinct conventions held under this chapter, lists of precinct convention participants indicating that the number of participants equals at least one percent of the total number of votes received by all candidates for governor in the most recent gubernatorial general election. The lists must include each participant's residence address and voter registration number. SECTION 6. Section 181.006(j), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (j) The petition may not be circulated before [until after] the date of the party's county [precinct] conventions held under this chapter. A signature obtained [on or] before that date is invalid. SECTION 7. Section 181.061, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: (c-1) A political party may by rule allow a county with a population of 25,000 or less to hold precinct conventions before the county convention on the same day and at the same place as the county convention. The rule may modify other provisions of this subchapter as necessary for the county to hold precinct conventions as provided by this subsection. SECTION 8. Section 181.063, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 181.063. HOUR AND PLACE OF PRECINCT AND COUNTY CONVENTIONS. The hours and places for convening the county convention and precinct conventions held under this chapter shall be set as provided by Section 174.022 [174.022(b)] for setting the hours and places of precinct conventions of a party holding a primary election. SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.