78R8835 DRH-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.B. No. 2871


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the protection of the rights of Texas voters without regard to race, color, or ethnicity. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 276.011 to read as follows: Sec. 276.011. CIVIL ACTION: DILUTION OF VOTING RIGHTS. (a) A law of this state or a regulation, rule, order, or ordinance of a political subdivision of this state may not be enacted or applied in a manner that results in the denial or abridgement of the right of an individual to vote on account of race, color, or ethnicity. For purposes of this section, an individual's ethnicity includes the individual's membership in a group that shares a common primary language. (b) An individual affected by a law or other measure described by Subsection (a) may bring a civil action to enforce Subsection (a). A violation of Subsection (a) is established if, based on the totality of the circumstances, it is shown in the action that the political processes leading to nomination or election in this state or a political subdivision of this state are not equally open to participation by individuals of a particular race, color, or ethnicity, in that the members of that group have less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process or to elect representatives of their choice. (c) In determining whether a political process is not equally open to individuals of a particular race, color, or ethnicity, a court may not consider the citizenship of members of the group, including in any manner that excludes individuals who are not citizens from an estimate of the potential voting strength of the group. (d) An action under this section may be brought only: (1) by a resident of the state in a district court in Travis County, for a state law; or (2) by a resident of the political subdivision in a district court in a county in which the political subdivision is located, for a regulation, rule, order, or ordinance of a political subdivision. (e) A finding of the district court under this section may be appealed in the same manner as provided by general law for other civil cases in district courts. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.