By: Zaffirini	S.B. No. 1072
	(In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2015; March 16, 2015, read
	first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
	April 28, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9,
	Nays 0; April 28, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the removal of a precinct or county chair for
	abandonment of office.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 171, Election Code, is
	amended by adding Section 171.029 to read as follows:
	Sec. 171.029.  REMOVAL OF PRECINCT CHAIR OR COUNTY CHAIR FOR
	ABANDONMENT OF OFFICE. (a)  A precinct or county chair who has
	failed to perform statutory duties provided by this code or failed
	to attend four or more consecutive meetings of the county executive
	committee may be removed for abandonment of office as provided by
	this section.
	(b)  If authorized by a resolution passed by the county
	executive committee, a county chair may send a notice to a precinct
	chair that states that the precinct chair is considered to have
	abandoned the office of precinct chair and the duties of the office.
	The notice must:
	(1)  state the reasons the county executive committee
	believes the precinct chair has abandoned the office;
	(2)  be sent by certified mail; and
	(3)  request a response from the precinct chair not
	later than the seventh day after the date the precinct chair
	receives the notice.
	(c)  If authorized by a resolution passed by the state
	executive committee, a state chair may send a notice to a county
	chair that states that the county chair is considered to have
	abandoned the office of county chair and the duties of the office.
	The notice must:
	(1)  state the reasons the state executive committee
	believes the county chair has abandoned the office;
	(2)  be sent by certified mail; and
	(3)  request a response from the county chair not later
	than the seventh day after the date the county chair receives the
	notice.
	(d)  A precinct or county chair must respond to a notice
	under Subsection (b) or (c) on or before the seventh day after the
	date the chair receives the notice and state whether the chair
	wishes to continue in office.  A chair's failure to respond and
	affirmatively state that the chair wishes to remain in office
	results in a vacancy in the office of precinct or county chair, as
	applicable.  The vacancy shall be filled as provided by this
	subchapter.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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