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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Health and Human Services Commission's authority to |
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combine applications for benefits with a voter registration |
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application. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 20, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 20.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 20.010. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION FORMS AND |
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PROCEDURES. (a) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall prescribe and require use by the |
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commission and health and human services agencies of forms and |
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procedures that combine each application form for a benefits |
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program administered by the commission or a health and human |
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services agency with an officially prescribed voter registration |
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application form. |
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(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall prescribe and require use by the |
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commission and health and human services agencies of a change of |
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address form and procedure that combines commission or health and |
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human services agency functions and voter registration functions. |
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The form must allow a recipient of benefits to indicate whether the |
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change of address is also to be used for voter registration |
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purposes. |
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(c) The design, content, and physical characteristics of |
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the forms required by this section must be approved by the secretary |
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of state. |
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(d) Forms required under this section must include the |
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following statement in a prominent location: "If you are not a |
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citizen of the United States, it is illegal for you to register to |
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vote." |
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SECTION 2. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
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a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
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federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
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the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
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authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
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waiver or authorization is granted. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |