BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 187

By: Dutton

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that many people convicted of a felony offense are unaware that they may be eligible to vote on completion of their sentence. H.B. 187 seeks to address this issue by requiring such a person to be notified on release from custody that the person may be eligible to vote.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 187 amends the Election Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to provide written notice to a person who is released from the custody or supervision of TDCJ that the person may be eligible to vote if the person is no longer subject to the disability to vote due to a felony conviction. The bill requires TDCJ to provide to the person an official voter registration application form prescribed by the secretary of state together with the written notice and exempts TDCJ from the applicability of other statutory provisions relating to voter registration agencies.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.