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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a contract with a county for election services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 31.096, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.096. NONTRANSFERABLE FUNCTIONS. An election |
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services contract may not change: |
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(1) the authority with whom applications of candidates |
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for a place on a ballot are filed; |
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(2) the authority with whom documents are filed under |
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Title 15; or |
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(3) the authority to serve as custodian of voted |
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ballots or other election records, except that a contract with a |
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political subdivision [other than a city] may provide that the |
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county election officer will be the custodian of voted ballots. |
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SECTION 2. Section 87.0222(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Notwithstanding Section 87.024, in an election |
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conducted by an authority of a county with a population of 100,000 |
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or more, [or] conducted jointly with such a county, or conducted |
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with such a county through a contract for election services, the |
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jacket envelopes containing the early voting ballots voted by mail |
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may be delivered to the board between the end of the ninth day |
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before election day and the closing of the polls on election day, or |
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as soon after closing as practicable, at the time or times specified |
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by the presiding judge of the board. |
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SECTION 3. Section 87.0241(b), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The board may not count early voting ballots until: |
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(1) the polls open on election day; or |
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(2) in an election conducted by an authority of a |
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county with a population of 100,000 or more, [or] conducted jointly |
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with such a county, or conducted with such a county through a |
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contract for election services, the end of the period for early |
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voting by personal appearance. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |