SRC-CDH S.B. 1085 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1085 By: Patterson Criminal Justice 3-17-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, voter fraud is punished as a Class B misdemeanor in the Texas Election Code. This legislation will increase that penalty to a third degree felony for the offenses of making a false statement on a voter registration form, unlawful assistance to a voter, unlawful witness of an early voting ballot, and for providing false information on an early voting application form, in an effort to deter voter fraud through stiffened punishments. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1085 establishes punishments for certain criminal offenses under the Election Code. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 13.007(b), Election Code, to provide that an offense under this section, regarding making a false statement on a voter registration application, is a third degree felony, rather than a Class B misdemeanor. SECTION 2. Amends Section 64.036(d), Election Code, to provide that an offense under this section, regarding unlawful assistance to a voter, is a third degree felony, rather than a Class B misdemeanor. SECTION 3. Amends Section 84.004(e), Election Code, to provide that an offense under this section, regarding unlawfully witnessing early voting ballot applications, is a third degree felony, rather than a Class B misdemeanor. SECTION 4. Amends Section 84.0041(b), Election Code, to provide that an offense under this section, regarding providing false information on an early voting ballot application, is a third degree felony, rather than a Class B misdemeanor. SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 7. Emergency clause.