By: Brown S.B. No. 817 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to certain ballot security procedures. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is 1-4 amended by adding Section 31.0061 to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 31.0061. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINT BY DEPARTMENT OF 1-6 PUBLIC SAFETY. After receiving a complaint alleging criminal 1-7 conduct in connection with an election, the secretary of state may 1-8 direct the Department of Public Safety to conduct an investigation 1-9 of the complaint. At the conclusion of its investigation, the 1-10 department shall report to the secretary with the results of the 1-11 investigation. 1-12 SECTION 2. Section 127.034, Election Code, is amended by 1-13 adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: 1-14 (e) Removal, sorting, or counting of ballots under this 1-15 section may not occur until after the polling place is closed for 1-16 voting. 1-17 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-18 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.