1-1 By: Madla S.B. No. 513
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 10, 1997; February 12, 1997,
1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
1-4 March 18, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 12,
1-5 Nays 0; March 18, 1997, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the use of a computer modem to transmit certain
1-9 precinct election results.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 127.1231, Election Code, is amended to
1-12 read as follows:
1-13 Sec. 127.1231. SECURITY OF AUTOMATIC TABULATING EQUIPMENT.
1-14 (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] general
1-15 custodian of election records shall ensure that any computer
1-16 terminals located outside the central counting station that are
1-17 capable of accessing the automatic tabulating equipment during the
1-18 tabulation are capable of inquiry functions only and shall ensure
1-19 that no modem access to the tabulating equipment is available
1-20 during the tabulation.
1-21 (b) The secretary of state may prescribe procedures for the
1-22 use of a system to allow results to be transmitted by a modem to
1-23 the central counting station from units of automatic tabulating
1-24 equipment located at a precinct polling place or at a regional
1-25 tabulating center serving several precincts. The system must
1-26 provide for a secure transmission of data. Results may not be
1-27 transmitted under this subsection until the polls close on election
1-28 day.
1-29 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
1-30 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-31 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-32 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-33 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-34 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-35 * * * * *