By Madla                                         S.B. No. 513

      75R3495 DRH-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the use of a computer modem to transmit certain

 1-3     precinct election results.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 127.1231, Election Code, is amended to

 1-6     read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 127.1231.  SECURITY OF AUTOMATIC TABULATING EQUIPMENT.

 1-8     (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] general

 1-9     custodian of election records shall ensure that any computer

1-10     terminals located outside the central counting station that are

1-11     capable of accessing the automatic tabulating equipment during the

1-12     tabulation are capable of inquiry functions only and shall ensure

1-13     that no modem access to the tabulating equipment is available

1-14     during the tabulation.

1-15           (b)  The secretary of state may prescribe procedures for the

1-16     use of a system to allow results to be transmitted by a modem to

1-17     the central counting station from units of automatic tabulating

1-18     equipment located at a precinct polling place or at a regional

1-19     tabulating center serving several precincts.  The system must

1-20     provide for a secure transmission of data.  Results may not be

1-21     transmitted under this subsection until the polls close on election

1-22     day.

1-23           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-24           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.