By Jones of Dallas, Madden, Chavez                    H.B. No. 1419
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring the secretary of state to study voting
 1-3     systems, technologies, and strategies.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. (a)  In this section, "voting system" has the
 1-6     meaning assigned by Section 121.003, Election Code.
 1-7           (b)  The secretary of state shall:
 1-8                 (1)  reexamine the voting system of each county as
 1-9     provided by Section 122.091, Election Code, to determine whether
1-10     the voting system complies with applicable standards prescribed by
1-11     law;
1-12                 (2)  study innovative, available voting technologies
1-13     and evaluate the potential for implementing the use of those
1-14     technologies in this state;
1-15                 (3)  study the effectiveness of adopting a uniform
1-16     voting system to be used by counties statewide; and
1-17                 (4)  study innovative approaches to voting, including:
1-18                       (A)  changing the location of and techniques for
1-19     voting; and
1-20                       (B)  evaluating new voting strategies.
1-21           (c)  Not later than December 1, 2002, the secretary of state
1-22     shall issue a report summarizing:
1-23                 (1)  the conclusions and recommendations resulting from
1-24     the reexamination and studies conducted under Subsection (b) of
 2-1     this section;
 2-2                 (2)  any legislation proposed by the secretary of state
 2-3     resulting from the reexamination and studies; and
 2-4                 (3)  any other relevant findings or recommendations.
 2-5           (d)  The secretary of state shall promptly deliver copies of
 2-6     the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the
 2-7     speaker of the house of representatives.
 2-8           (e)  The secretary of state may adopt rules necessary to
 2-9     implement this section.
2-10           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.