By Puente H.B. No. 59 77R366 PAM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to making a voter information guide for judicial elections 1-3 available to the public on the Internet. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Title 16, Election Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Chapter 278 to read as follows: 1-7 CHAPTER 278. VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE FOR JUDICIAL ELECTIONS 1-8 Sec. 278.001. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter 1-9 applies to each candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot or 1-10 a list of declared write-in candidates in a judicial election. 1-11 Sec. 278.002. INTERNET VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE. The 1-12 secretary of state may implement a voter information service 1-13 program to: 1-14 (1) compile information on candidates for election in 1-15 the form of a voter information guide; and 1-16 (2) make the guide available to the public on the 1-17 Internet. 1-18 Sec. 278.003. STATEMENT FILED BY CANDIDATE. If the 1-19 secretary of state implements a voter information service program, 1-20 a candidate may file with the secretary not later than the 70th day 1-21 before the date of the judicial election an informational 1-22 statement, on a form prescribed by the secretary, to be included in 1-23 the voter information guide for that election. 1-24 Sec. 278.004. STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a) A candidate's 2-1 statement must include a summary of the following information: 2-2 (1) current occupation; 2-3 (2) educational and occupational background; 2-4 (3) biographical information; and 2-5 (4) any previous experience serving in government. 2-6 (b) The secretary of state may prescribe the format and 2-7 length of the candidate's statement. 2-8 Sec. 278.005. REVIEW BY SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) Not later 2-9 than the fifth day after the date the candidate's statement is 2-10 received, the secretary of state may review the statement to 2-11 determine whether it complies with this chapter. 2-12 (b) If the secretary of state determines that the statement 2-13 does not comply with the applicable requirements, the secretary may 2-14 reject the statement and deliver written notice of the reason for 2-15 the rejection to the candidate not later than the second day after 2-16 the date of rejection. 2-17 (c) A candidate whose statement is rejected may resubmit the 2-18 statement subject to the prescribed deadline. 2-19 Sec. 278.006. PREPARATION OF GUIDE. (a) The secretary of 2-20 state may contract for the preparation of the voter information 2-21 guide after soliciting bids for that work. The secretary may 2-22 prepare the guide if the secretary determines that the costs of 2-23 that preparation are less than or equal to the most reasonable bid 2-24 submitted. 2-25 (b) The voter information guide must include the candidates' 2-26 statements that comply with this chapter, with candidates for 2-27 election and write-in candidates for election as separate groups. 3-1 The order of the candidates' names within the groups is determined 3-2 by a drawing conducted by the secretary of state. 3-3 (c) The secretary of state may prescribe appropriate 3-4 explanatory material to be included in the voter information guide 3-5 to assist the voters, including a statement that the guide may be 3-6 used at the polls to assist the voters in marking their ballots. 3-7 Sec. 278.007. AVAILABILITY OF GUIDE. If the secretary of 3-8 state implements a voter information service program, the secretary 3-9 may make the voter information guide available to the public on the 3-10 Internet not later than the 45th day before the date of each 3-11 judicial election. 3-12 Sec. 278.008. ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES. The secretary of state 3-13 may prescribe any additional procedures necessary to implement this 3-14 chapter. 3-15 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.