78R1269 DRH-D

By:  Dutton                                                       H.B. No. 382



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the designation of the Texas Department of Criminal 
Justice as a voter registration agency.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 20.001, Election Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is designated 
as a voter registration agency.
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 20, Election Code, is amended by adding 
Subchapter F to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F.  TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
	Sec. 20.151.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS.  The other 
provisions of this chapter apply to the Texas Department of 
Criminal Justice except provisions that conflict with this 
subchapter.
	Sec. 20.152.  PROCEDURE.  (a)  The Texas Department of 
Criminal Justice shall provide written notice to a person who is 
released from the custody or supervision of the department and is no 
longer subject to the disability referred to in Section 11.002(4) 
that the person may be eligible to vote.
	(b)  The department shall send an official voter 
registration application form prescribed by the secretary of state 
to the person together with the notice required by Subsection (a).
	Sec. 20.153.  DECLINATION FORM NOT REQUIRED.  The Texas 
Department of Criminal Justice is not required to comply with the 
procedures prescribed by this chapter relating to the form for a 
declination of voter registration.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.