Amend SB 5 (senate committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill:
SECTION ____. Chapter 1, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 1.021 to read as follows:
Sec. 1.021. BIPARTISAN ELECTION COMMISSION. (a) The Bipartisan Election Commission is composed of eight members as follows:
(1) two members from each political party whose nominee for governor in the most recent gubernatorial general election received 20 percent or more of the total number of votes received by all candidates for governor in the election, appointed by the senate; and
(2) two members from each political party whose nominee for governor in the most recent gubernatorial general election received 20 percent or more of the total number of votes received by all candidates for governor in the election, appointed by the house of representatives.
(b) A member of the commission serves at the will of the appointing house of the legislature.
(c) The commission shall study methods to reduce election fraud, increase voter turnout, and improve election practices in this state.
(d) The commission shall report its findings to the committees of each house of the legislature with jurisdiction over elections. The commission shall submit one report not later than December 1, 2018, and a second report not later than December 1, 2020. This subsection expires September 1, 2021.