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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of certain information regarding voter |
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qualification. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 16.0332, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (d), and (e) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) After the registrar receives notification [a list] |
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under Subsection (a-1) of this section, Section 18.068 of this |
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code, or Section 62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or |
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disqualified from jury service because of citizenship status or |
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notification of persons who indicate a lack of citizenship status |
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in connection with a motor vehicle or Department of Public Safety |
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record, the registrar shall deliver to each registered voter whose |
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name appears on the list a written notice requiring the voter to |
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submit to the registrar proof of United States citizenship in the |
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form of a certified copy of the voter's birth certificate, United |
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States passport, or certificate of naturalization or any other form |
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prescribed by the secretary of state. The notice shall be delivered |
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by forwardable mail to the mailing address on the voter's |
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registration application and to any new address of the voter known |
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to the registrar. |
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(a-1) The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement |
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with the Department of Public Safety under which information in the |
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existing statewide computerized voter registration list is |
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compared against information in the database of the Department of |
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Public Safety on a monthly basis to verify the accuracy of |
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citizenship status information previously provided on voter |
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registration applications. |
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(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe rules for the |
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administration of this section. |
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(e) Not later than December 31 of each year, the secretary |
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of state shall provide a report to the legislature of the number of |
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voter registrations canceled under this section during the calendar |
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year. |
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SECTION 2. Section 18.068(a), Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the |
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information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Sections |
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[Section] 62.113 and 62.114, Government Code, to the statewide |
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computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines |
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that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been |
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excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a |
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citizen or a resident of the county in which the voter is registered |
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to vote, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to: |
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(1) the voter registrar of the counties considered |
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appropriate by the secretary; and |
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(2) the attorney general, who shall quarterly review |
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the information to investigate whether a person has committed an |
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offense under Section 13.007 or other law. |
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(a-1) The secretary of state is not required to send notice |
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under Subsection (a) for a voter who is subject to an exemption from |
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jury service under Section 62.106, Government Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 62.113(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall |
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send a copy of the list of persons excused or disqualified because |
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of citizenship in the previous month to: |
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(1) the voter registrar of the county; |
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(2) the secretary of state; and |
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(3) the attorney general and the county or district |
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attorney[, as applicable,] for an investigation of whether the |
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person committed an offense under Section 13.007, Election Code, or |
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other law. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 62.114(b) and (c), Government Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall |
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send [to the voter registrar of the county] a copy of the list of |
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persons excused or disqualified in the previous month because the |
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persons do not reside in the county to: |
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(1) the voter registrar of the county; |
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(2) the secretary of state; and |
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(3) the attorney general and the county or district |
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attorney for an investigation of whether the person committed an |
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offense under Section 13.007, Election Code, or other law. |
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(c) A list compiled under this section may not be used for a |
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purpose other than a purpose described by Subsection (b) or Section |
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15.081 or 18.068, Election Code. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |