By Danburg H.B. No. 711
77R893 PAM-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to authorizing the appointment of students to serve as
1-3 election clerks.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 32.051(c), Election Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (c) Except as provided by Section 32.0511, to [To] be
1-8 eligible to serve as a clerk of an election precinct, a person must
1-9 be a qualified voter:
1-10 (1) of the county, in a countywide election ordered by
1-11 the governor or a county authority or in a primary election;
1-12 (2) of the part of the county in which the election is
1-13 held, for an election ordered by the governor or a county authority
1-14 that does not cover the entire county of the person's residence; or
1-15 (3) of the political subdivision, in an election
1-16 ordered by an authority of a political subdivision other than a
1-17 county.
1-18 SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 32, Election Code, is
1-19 amended by adding Section 32.0511 to read as follows:
1-20 Sec. 32.0511. SPECIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: STUDENT
1-21 ELECTION CLERKS. (a) In this section:
1-22 (1) "Educational institution" means a:
1-23 (A) public secondary school; or
1-24 (B) private or parochial secondary school that
2-1 is accredited by an accreditation body that is a member of the
2-2 Texas Private School Accreditation Commission.
2-3 (2) "Student" means a person enrolled in an
2-4 educational institution or a home school student.
2-5 (b) A student who is ineligible to serve as a clerk of an
2-6 election precinct under Section 32.051(c) is eligible to serve as a
2-7 clerk of an election precinct under this section if the student:
2-8 (1) at the time of appointment as an election clerk:
2-9 (A) is a student in good standing at an
2-10 educational institution or attends a home school that meets the
2-11 requirements of Section 25.086(a)(1), Education Code;
2-12 (B) has the equivalent of at least a 2.5 grade
2-13 point average on a 5.0 grade point average scale; and
2-14 (C) has the consent of:
2-15 (i) a parent or legal guardian of the
2-16 student; and
2-17 (ii) the principal of the educational
2-18 institution attended by the student, if applicable; and
2-19 (2) at the time of service as an election clerk:
2-20 (A) is 16 years of age or older; and
2-21 (B) is a United States citizen.
2-22 SECTION 3. Section 32.072(a), Election Code, is amended to
2-23 read as follows:
2-24 (a) The presiding judge shall designate the working hours of
2-25 and assign the duties to be performed by the election clerks
2-26 serving under the judge. The presiding judge may not assign a
2-27 student election clerk to a counting team for the purpose of
3-1 tallying votes.
3-2 SECTION 4. Section 32.091(a), Election Code, is amended to
3-3 read as follows:
3-4 (a) An election judge or clerk, including a student election
3-5 clerk, is entitled to compensation for services rendered at a
3-6 precinct polling place at an hourly rate not to exceed $6. A judge
3-7 or clerk may be compensated at that rate for services rendered
3-8 under Section 62.014(c).
3-9 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.