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By:  Jones of Dallas (Senate Sponsor - West)                      H.B. No. 1517
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 2003; 
April 15, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on State 
Affairs; May 21, 2003, reported adversely, with favorable 
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; 
May 21, 2003, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1517                                   By:  Ellis


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to publicizing a list of voters' rights.                           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.0055(b), Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(b)  A notice informing voters of the telephone number and 
the purpose for the number shall be included in the notice of 
voters' rights publicized under Section 62.0115 [continuously 
posted in a prominent location at each polling place during the 
early voting period and on election day for each election held on a 
uniform election date.  The secretary of state shall prescribe the 
form for the notice under this subsection].
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 62, Election Code, is amended by adding 
Section 62.0115 to read as follows:
	Sec. 62.0115.  PUBLIC NOTICE OF VOTERS' RIGHTS.  (a)  The 
secretary of state shall adopt rules providing for publicizing 
voters' rights as prescribed by this section.  The rules must 
require that a notice of those rights be publicized:
		(1)  by being posted by an election officer in a 
prominent location at each polling place;
		(2)  on the Internet website of the secretary of state;                
		(3)  through material published by the secretary of 
state; or        
		(4)  in another manner designed to give voters notice 
of their rights.
	(b)  Except as revised by the secretary of state under 
Subsection (d), the notice must state that a voter has the right to:
		(1)  receive a ballot with written instructions on how 
to cast a ballot, if the ballot is a paper ballot or an electronic 
system ballot on which a voter indicates a vote by punching a hole 
in the ballot;
		(2)  vote in secret and free from intimidation;                        
		(3)  receive up to two additional ballots if the voter 
mismarks, damages, or otherwise spoils a ballot;
		(4)  request instructions on how to cast a ballot, but 
not to receive suggestions on how to vote;
		(5)  bring an interpreter to translate the ballot and 
any instructions from election officials;
		(6)  receive assistance in casting the ballot if the 
voter:          
			(A)  has a physical disability that renders the 
voter unable to write or see; or
			(B)  cannot read the language in which the ballot 
is written;       
		(7)  cast a ballot on executing an affidavit as 
provided by law, if the voter's eligibility to vote is questioned;
		(8)  report an existing or potential abuse of voting 
rights to the secretary of state or the local election official;
		(9)  except as provided by Section 85.066(b), Election 
Code, vote at any early voting location in the county in which the 
voter resides in an election held at county expense, a primary 
election, or a special election ordered by the governor;
		(10)  register to vote if the voter has been convicted 
of a felony and has been fully discharged of the sentence for that 
offense;
		(11)  be permitted reasonable time to vote on election 
day if the voter is a sequestered juror; and
		(12)  leave the voter's place of employment on election 
day for the purpose of voting, unless the polls are open on election 
day for two consecutive hours outside of the voter's working hours.
	(c)  The notice must also state:                                        
		(1)  the information relating to the voting rights 
hotline required under Section 31.0055; and
		(2)  any other information that the secretary of state 
considers important for a voter to know.
	(d)  The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and 
content of the notice in accordance with this section.  The 
secretary of state shall revise the content of the notice as 
necessary to ensure that the notice accurately reflects the law in 
effect at the time the notice is publicized.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to an election ordered on or after that date.



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