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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the distribution and delivery of voter registration |
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applications by volunteer deputy registrars; providing criminal |
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penalties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. |
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Section 13.038, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.038. POWERS GENERALLY; OFFENSE. (a) A volunteer |
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deputy registrar may distribute voter registration application |
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forms throughout the county and receive registration applications |
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submitted to the deputy in person. |
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(b) A volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense if the |
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volunteer deputy distributes a voter registration application form |
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to a person the volunteer deputy knows is ineligible to register to |
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vote under Section 13.001. An offense under this subsection is a |
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state jail felony. |
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SECTION 2. Section 13.043, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 13.043. FAILURE TO CONDUCT APPOINTED DUTIES [DELIVER
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APPLICATION]. (a) A volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense |
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if the deputy fails to cause the proper and timely delivery of a |
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completed voter registration application as required by [comply
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with] Section 13.042. |
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(a-1) A volunteer deputy registrar commits an offense if the |
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volunteer deputy knowingly causes a voter registration application |
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containing false information to be delivered to the registrar. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under |
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Subsection (a) [this section] is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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(c) An offense under Subsection (a) [this section] is a |
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Class A misdemeanor if the deputy's failure to comply is |
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intentional. |
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(d) An offense under Subsection (a-1) is a state jail |
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felony. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes |
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of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date |
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of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |