1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to cancellation of the voter registrations of persons who

 1-3     are not United States citizens; providing a penalty.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 62, Government Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 62.113 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 62.113.  COMPILATION OF LIST OF NONCITIZENS.  (a)  The

 1-8     clerk of the court shall maintain a list of the name and address of

 1-9     each person who is excused or disqualified under this subchapter

1-10     from jury service because the person is not a citizen of the United

1-11     States.

1-12           (b)  On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall

1-13     send a copy of the list of persons excused or disqualified because

1-14     of citizenship in the previous month to the voter registrar of the

1-15     county.

1-16           (c)  A list compiled under this section may not be used for a

1-17     purpose other than a purpose described by Subsection (b) or Section

1-18     16.0332, Election Code.

1-19           (d)  A person commits an offense if the person violates

1-20     Subsection (c).  An offense under this section is a Class C

1-21     misdemeanor.

1-22           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Election Code, is

1-23     amended by adding Section 16.0332 to read as follows:

1-24           Sec. 16.0332.  CANCELLATION BECAUSE OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS.

 2-1     (a)  After the registrar receives a list under Section 62.113,

 2-2     Government Code, of persons excused or disqualified from jury

 2-3     service because of citizenship status, the registrar shall deliver

 2-4     to each registered voter who appears on the list a written notice

 2-5     requiring the voter to provide proof of United States citizenship

 2-6     in a form prescribed by the secretary of state.  The notice shall

 2-7     be delivered by forwardable mail to the mailing address on the

 2-8     voter's registration application and to any new address of the

 2-9     voter known to the registrar.

2-10           (b)  If a voter fails to provide the registrar with proof of

2-11     citizenship before the 31st day after the date the notice is mailed

2-12     to the voter, the registrar shall cancel the voter's registration.

2-13           (c)  The registrar shall retain a copy of the notice mailed

2-14     to a voter under this section on file with the voter's registration

2-15     application.  The registrar shall also retain any proof of

2-16     citizenship received under this section on file with the

2-17     application.

2-18           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-19           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1645 was passed by the House on May

         16, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1645 was passed by the Senate on May

         21, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor