BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1046

By: Duncan

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the secretary of state updates the statewide computerized voter registration list upon receipt of information regarding deceased residents of Texas from local officials and the state's Bureau of Vital Statistics. S.B. 1046 requires the secretary of state to obtain similar information from the United States Social Security Administration and to compare that information to the registration list.

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

S.B. 1046 amends the Election Code to require the secretary of state to obtain quarterly from the United States Social Security Administration available information specified by the secretary of state relating to deceased residents of Texas and compare the information received to the statewide computerized voter registration list.  The bill requires the secretary of state, if the secretary of state determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased, to send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary of state.  The bill includes as a condition under which the voter registrar of a county is required to cancel a voter's registration immediately that the registrar receives such notice from the secretary of state that the voter is deceased.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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