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House Bill 148 |
House Author: Burkett et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
Senate Sponsor: Paxton et al. |
House Bill 148 amends the Election Code to make it a criminal offense to compensate another person for mailing a carrier envelope as part of any performance-based compensation scheme based on a quota or number of ballots mailed; to engage in another practice that causes another person's compensation from or employment status with the person to be dependent on the number of ballots mailed; or, with knowledge that accepting compensation for such activity is illegal, to accept compensation for such activity. The bill also makes it a criminal offense to compensate another person for assisting voters as part of any performance-based compensation scheme based on a quota or the number of voters assisted; to engage in another practice that causes another person's compensation from or employment status with the person to be dependent on the number of voters assisted; or, with knowledge that accepting compensation for such activity is illegal, to accept compensation for such an activity. The bill makes each offense a misdemeanor unless it is demonstrated at trial that the defendant has been previously convicted of the offense two or more times, in which case the offense is enhanced to a state jail felony.