By:  Madden, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro)                    H.B. No. 402
	(In the Senate - Received from the House March 31, 2003; 
April 3, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on State 
Affairs; May 23, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:  
Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 23, 2003, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to a pilot program involving the use of an electronic 
registration system.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding 
Section 63.013 to read as follows:
	Sec. 63.013.  (a)  The secretary of state shall implement a 
pilot program to evaluate the use of an electronic registration 
system on election day and during the period for early voting by 
personal appearance.  The program shall:
		(1)  be limited to a single county that chooses to 
participate and has a population of approximately 500,000 people;
		(2)  allow for the use of a card with a magnetic stripe 
issued to the voter to confirm the voter's registration instead of 
the registration certificate when the voter appears in person to 
vote; and
		(3)  be used in one or more countywide elections as 
determined appropriate by the secretary of state and the county.
	(b)  At the conclusion of the pilot program established under 
Subsection (a), but not later than December 31, 2006, the secretary 
of state shall file a report with the governor, the lieutenant 
governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives on the 
pilot program and the use of an electronic registration card.  The 
report may contain recommendations on the future use of the card and 
suggestions for permanent statutory authority regarding the use of 
the card.
	(c)  This section expires January 1, 2007.                              
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.



* * * * *