By: Murphy, S. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1570

(Senate Sponsor - Williams)

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2011; April 20, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; May 9, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 9, 2011, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to training for deputy voter registrars.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 12.006, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) A regular deputy registrar may not assist in the registration of voters until the deputy registrar has completed training developed under Section 13.047. At the time of appointment, the voter registrar shall provide information about the times and places at which training is offered.

SECTION 2. Section 13.031, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) A volunteer deputy registrar appointed under this section may not receive another person's registration application until the deputy registrar has completed training developed under Section 13.047. At the time of appointment, the voter registrar shall provide information about the times and places at which training is offered.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 13, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 13.047 to read as follows:

Sec. 13.047. TRAINING STANDARDS FOR DEPUTY REGISTRARS. (a) The secretary of state shall:

(1) adopt standards of training in election law relating to the registration of voters;

(2) develop materials for a standardized curriculum for that training; and

(3) distribute the materials as necessary to each county voter registrar.

(b) The training standards may include the passage of an examination at the end of a training program.

SECTION 4. The secretary of state shall adopt training standards under Section 13.047, Election Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2012.

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a deputy voter registrar appointed on or after the date the secretary of state adopts training standards under Section 13.047, Election Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

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