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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring public high school students to assist in the |
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conduct of elections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (c), to |
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graduate and receive a diploma, a student must participate as an |
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assistant election clerk as provided by Section 32.036, Election |
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Code, in at least one election. This subsection does not apply to a |
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student with a disability that significantly interferes with the |
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student's ability to perform any of the duties of an assistant |
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election clerk. The determination of whether a disability |
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significantly interferes with a student's ability to perform the |
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duties of an assistant election clerk must be made by the student's |
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admission, review, and dismissal committee. For purposes of this |
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subsection, "student with a disability" means a student who is |
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eligible for a district's special education program under Section |
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29.003(b). |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 32.036 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.036. ASSISTANT ELECTION CLERKS. (a) To comply |
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with Section 28.025(c-1), Education Code, a high school student may |
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be appointed as an assistant election clerk to assist in the conduct |
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of an election. |
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(b) An assistant election clerk under this section is not |
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required to be a qualified voter. |
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(c) The secretary of state and the commissioner of education |
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shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish a |
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program that would allow high school students to comply with |
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Section 28.025(c-1), Education Code. |
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(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures for |
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the appointment of assistant election clerks under this section. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by Section 28.025(c-1), |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the |
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2008-2009 school year. |
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SECTION 4. (a) Not later than October 1, 2007, the |
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commissioner of education and the secretary of state shall enter |
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into a memorandum of understanding to establish a program as |
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provided by Section 32.036, Election Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than November 1, 2007, the secretary of state |
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shall adopt procedures as provided by Section 32.036, Election |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |