83R20823 JRJ-F
 
  By: White, Menendez, Schaefer H.B. No. 1129
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1129:
 
  By:  Sheffield of Bell C.S.H.B. No. 1129
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a program allowing certain military voters on active
  duty overseas to cast a ballot electronically.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 105, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Section 105.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 105.004.  E-MAIL BALLOT PROGRAM. (a)  The secretary of
  state shall implement a program to allow a person who is casting an
  early voting ballot by mail to return the ballot by e-mail if the
  person is a member of the armed forces of the United States who is on
  active duty overseas and eligible for hostile fire pay. The
  secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to provide for a
  process implemented under this section to require:
               (1)  the voter to print the ballot, print and sign a
  voter signature form, and then scan the documents before submitting
  them by e-mail; and
               (2)  secure processing of ballots, including requiring
  the use of a voter's military e-mail address and common access card,
  or other measures the secretary of state considers appropriate.
         (b)  The secretary of state shall select to participate in
  the program a county that:
               (1)  desires to participate in the program; and
               (2)  is determined by the secretary of state to have the
  appropriate technological capabilities.
         (c)  The secretary of state shall operate the program
  established under Subsection (a) as a pilot program until September
  1, 2015.
         (d)  Not later than January 1, 2015, the secretary of state
  shall file a report with the legislature.  The report may include
  the secretary of state's recommendations on the future use of
  e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces of the
  United States and suggestions for permanent statutory authority
  regarding e-mail ballot submission by members of the armed forces
  of the United States.
         (e)  This section expires September 1, 2015.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.