1-1 By: Goolsby (Senate Sponsor - Carona) H.B. No. 1645 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 16, 1997; 1-3 May 16, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Jurisprudence; May 18, 1997, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to cancellation of the voter registrations of persons who 1-9 are not United States citizens; providing a penalty. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 62, Government Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Section 62.113 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 62.113. COMPILATION OF LIST OF NONCITIZENS. (a) The 1-14 clerk of the court shall maintain a list of the name and address of 1-15 each person who is excused or disqualified under this subchapter 1-16 from jury service because the person is not a citizen of the United 1-17 States. 1-18 (b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall 1-19 send a copy of the list of persons excused or disqualified because 1-20 of citizenship in the previous month to the voter registrar of the 1-21 county. 1-22 (c) A list compiled under this section may not be used for a 1-23 purpose other than a purpose described by Subsection (b) or Section 1-24 16.0332, Election Code. 1-25 (d) A person commits an offense if the person violates 1-26 Subsection (c). An offense under this section is a Class C 1-27 misdemeanor. 1-28 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Election Code, is 1-29 amended by adding Section 16.0332 to read as follows: 1-30 Sec. 16.0332. CANCELLATION BECAUSE OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS. 1-31 (a) After the registrar receives a list under Section 62.113, 1-32 Government Code, of persons excused or disqualified from jury 1-33 service because of citizenship status, the registrar shall deliver 1-34 to each registered voter who appears on the list a written notice 1-35 requiring the voter to provide proof of United States citizenship 1-36 in a form prescribed by the secretary of state. The notice shall 1-37 be delivered by forwardable mail to the mailing address on the 1-38 voter's registration application and to any new address of the 1-39 voter known to the registrar. 1-40 (b) If a voter fails to provide the registrar with proof of 1-41 citizenship before the 31st day after the date the notice is mailed 1-42 to the voter, the registrar shall cancel the voter's registration. 1-43 (c) The registrar shall retain a copy of the notice mailed 1-44 to a voter under this section on file with the voter's registration 1-45 application. The registrar shall also retain any proof of 1-46 citizenship received under this section on file with the 1-47 application. 1-48 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-49 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-50 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-51 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-52 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-53 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-54 * * * * *