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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility to serve as an interpreter in an election. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 61.032, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.032. INTERPRETER PERMITTED. If an election officer |
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who attempts to communicate with a voter does not understand the |
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language used by the voter, the voter may communicate through an |
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interpreter selected by the voter or, if the voter has not selected |
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an interpreter, any interpreter an election officer may appoint. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.033, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.033. ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AS INTERPRETER. To be |
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eligible to serve as an interpreter, a person: |
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(1) if selected by the voter, may be any person other |
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than the voter's employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an |
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officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs; or |
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(2) if appointed to serve as an interpreter by an |
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election officer, must be a registered voter of the county in which |
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the voter needing the interpreter resides or a registered voter of |
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an adjacent county. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.034, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.034. TRANSLATING BALLOT. If a voter cannot |
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comprehend the language in which the ballot is printed, the voter |
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may receive assistance in accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 64 |
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[an interpreter may accompany the voter to the voting station for |
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the purpose of translating the ballot to the voter]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.035, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.035. OATH. (a) Before serving as an interpreter, |
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the person selected as interpreter must take the following oath |
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administered by an election officer: |
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"I swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my ability, I will |
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correctly interpret and translate each question, answer, or |
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statement addressed either to the voter by any election officer or |
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to an election officer by the voter." |
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(b) A person who will be providing ballot assistance under |
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Section 61.034 must also take the oath required by Subchapter B, |
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Chapter 64, and meet all other requirements of that subchapter. |
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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 September 1, 2021. |