By: Elkins (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 985
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013;
  May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 14, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 14, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the deadlines by which provisional ballots must be
  processed and the state canvass must be conducted for certain
  elections.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 65.051, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for an election held
  on the date of the general election for state and county officers,
  the early voting ballot board shall verify and count provisional
  ballots as provided by this subchapter not later than the 13th day
  after the date of the election.
         SECTION 2.  Section 65.052, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 65.052.  DUTY OF VOTER REGISTRAR. The secretary of
  state shall prescribe procedures by which the voter registrar of
  the county in which a provisional ballot is cast shall provide
  assistance to the early voting ballot board in executing its
  authority under this subchapter. In an election described by
  Section 65.051(a-1), the procedures must allow for seven calendar
  days for the voter registrar to review a provisional voter's
  eligibility.
         SECTION 3.  Section 67.003, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), each local
  canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at
  the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer not
  earlier than the eighth day or later than the 11th day after
  election day.
         (c)  In an election described by Section 65.051(a-1), the
  time for the local canvass may be set not later than the 14th day
  after election day.
         SECTION 4.  Section 67.012(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The governor shall conduct the state canvass [not
  earlier than the 15th or later than the 30th day after election day]
  at the time set by the secretary of state:
               (1)  not earlier than the 15th or later than the 30th
  day after election day; or
               (2)  for an election described by Section 65.051(a-1),
  not earlier than the 18th or later than the 33rd day after election
  day.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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