BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1226

By: Dutton

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that there is confusion as to whether a person who has received deferred adjudication is eligible to vote. H.B. 1226 seeks to reaffirm the right for a person who has received deferred adjudication to vote.

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

H.B. 1226 amends the Election Code, in provisions relating to a person's eligibility to register as a voter in Texas and to the definition of "qualified voter," to establish that, for purposes of conditions on such eligibility or qualification if the person has been finally convicted of a felony, a person is not considered to have been finally convicted of an offense for which the criminal proceedings are deferred without an adjudication of guilt.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.