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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to restrictions on the assessment of the fee charged for |
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issuance of certain birth records. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 191.0046, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: |
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(e) It is the intent of the legislature to not impose a cost |
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for obtaining certified records for the purpose of obtaining an |
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election identification certificate issued pursuant to Chapter |
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521A, Transportation Code. Notwithstanding any other law, the |
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state registrar, a local registrar, or a county clerk shall not |
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charge a fee to an applicant that is associated with searching for |
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or providing a record, including a certified copy of a birth record, |
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if the applicant states that the applicant is requesting the record |
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for the purpose of obtaining an election identification certificate |
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under Section 521A.001, Transportation Code. |
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(f) Notwithstanding Subsection (e), a local registrar or a |
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county clerk who issues a birth record that is required for the |
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purpose of obtaining an election identification certificate issued |
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pursuant to Chapter 521A, Transportation Code, and is otherwise |
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entitled by law to retain all or a portion of a fee for that birth |
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record, is entitled to payment of the amount from the department. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an |
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application for a certified copy of a birth record filed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. An application for a certified copy |
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of a birth record filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on that date, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |