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79R5994 DRH-D

By:  Denny                                                        H.B. No. 1803



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the deadline for printing ballots to be voted by mail; 
providing a penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 51, Election Code, is 
amended by adding Section 51.014 to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.014.  DEADLINE FOR PRINTING BALLOTS TO BE VOTED BY 
MAIL.  (a)  A person who prints ballots to be voted by mail must 
deliver the ballots to the authority responsible for having the 
official ballot prepared not later than the 10th day after the last 
date the printer receives information from the authority necessary 
to print the ballots.
	(b)  A person who violates Subsection (a) is liable for a 
civil penalty in an amount not to exceed an amount equal to:
		(1)  three times the amount of the contract for 
printing the ballots for the first day the ballots are late; and
		(2)  two times the amount of the contract for printing 
the ballots for each additional day the ballots are late.
	(c)  A district attorney, criminal district attorney, or 
county attorney of the county in which the election is to be held 
may bring suit to recover the civil penalty imposed under this 
section.
	(d)  A civil penalty recovered under this section shall be 
deposited in the general fund of the political subdivision holding 
the election for which the ballots are to be used.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.