BILL ANALYSIS
By: Dutton
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current Texas law, ex-felons regain their right to vote immediately upon completion of their sentence. Unfortunately, many ex-felons do not know that they regain this important right.
House Bill 770 simply requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to provide written notice to a person upon their release from custody, that they may be eligible to vote if they have completely discharged the term of their sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
HB 770 Amends Chapter 20, Election Code, by adding Subchapter F, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
HB 770 provides that the other provisions of Chapter 20, Election Code, do not apply to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
This bill requires the TDCJ to provide written notice to a person who is released from the custody or supervision of the department that the person may be eligible to vote if the person has fully discharged their sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or
completed a period of probation, or been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote under Section 11.002(4), Election Code. Together with this notice, the bill requires the department to provide the person with an official voter registration application form.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.