79R6709 ATP-D

By:  Coleman                                                      H.B. No. 2056



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of voter registration applications to 
graduating high school students and incoming college students; 
providing a criminal penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 13, 
Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER B.  VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS; HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
DEPUTY REGISTRARS
	SECTION 2.  Sections 13.046(d) and (h), Election Code, are 
amended to read as follows:
	(d)  At least twice each school year, a high school deputy 
registrar shall distribute an officially prescribed registration 
application form to each student who is or will be 18 years of age or 
older during that year, subject to rules prescribed by the 
secretary of state.  In addition, a high school deputy registrar 
shall distribute an officially prescribed registration application 
form to each student who is or who will be 18 years of age or older 
during that year, at the time the student applies for or submits any 
required documentation for graduation.
	(h)  The secretary of state shall prescribe any additional 
procedures necessary to implement this section.  The secretary of 
state may prescribe procedures for the electronic provision and 
submission of a registration application under this section, to the 
extent authorized by this code.
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 13, Election Code, is 
amended by adding Section 13.047 to read as follows:
	Sec. 13.047.  COLLEGE DEPUTY REGISTRARS.  (a)  Each public or 
private institution of higher education shall designate at least 
one person for each county in which the institution is located to 
serve as a deputy registrar for that county.
	(b)  In this code, "college deputy registrar" means a deputy 
registrar serving under this section.
	(c)  A college deputy registrar may distribute registration 
application forms to and receive registration applications 
submitted to the deputy in person from students of the institution 
only.
	(d)  A college deputy registrar shall distribute an 
officially prescribed registration application form to each 
student who is enrolling in the institution for the first time, is a 
resident of this state, and is or will be 18 years of age or older 
during that year, subject to rules prescribed by the secretary of 
state.
	(e)  Each application form distributed under this section 
must be accompanied by a notice informing the student that the 
application may be submitted:
		(1)  in person or by mail to the voter registrar of the 
county in which the student resides;
		(2)  in person to a college deputy registrar for 
delivery to the voter registrar of the county in which the student 
resides; or
		(3)  in person to a volunteer deputy registrar of the 
county in which the student resides for delivery to the voter 
registrar of that county.
	(f)  If a student of an institution of higher education does 
not reside in the college deputy registrar's county, the deputy may 
accept the student's registration application and shall deliver the 
application to the registrar of the county in which the student 
resides, as indicated by the application.
	(g)  Except as provided by this subsection, Sections 13.039, 
13.041, and 13.042 apply to the submission and delivery of 
registration applications under this section, and, for that 
purpose, "volunteer deputy registrar" in those sections includes a 
college deputy registrar.  A college deputy registrar may review an 
application for completeness out of the applicant's presence.  A 
college deputy registrar may deliver a group of applications to the 
appropriate registrar by mail in an envelope or package, and, for 
the purpose of determining compliance with the delivery deadline, 
an application delivered by mail is considered to be delivered at 
the time the deputy sends the application.
	(h)  A college deputy registrar commits an offense if the 
deputy fails to comply with Section 13.042.  An offense under this 
subsection is a Class C misdemeanor unless the deputy's failure to 
comply is intentional, in which case the offense is a Class A 
misdemeanor.
	(i)  The secretary of state shall prescribe any additional 
procedures necessary to implement this section.  The secretary of 
state may prescribe procedures for the electronic provision and 
submission of a registration application under this section, to the 
extent authorized by this code.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.