BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 209

By: Canales

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties believe that more could be done in high schools to facilitate the voter registration of students and school employees. C.S.H.B. 209 seeks to address this issue by providing for the availability of voter registration forms in high schools.

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

C.S.H.B. 209 amends the Election Code to require the secretary of state to consult with the Texas Education Agency regarding the number of voter registration application forms to provide to each high school and to provide each high school that determined number of forms. The bill requires forms so provided or made available by a high school deputy registrar to be in the form of the officially prescribed application form for registration by mail. The bill requires a high school to always make the forms available to students and employees of the school. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 209 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 13.046, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (h) to read as follows: (c-1) A high school shall always make available registration application forms to students and employees of the school. (h) The secretary of state shall: (1) provide the officially prescribed registration application forms to a high school; and (2) prescribe any additional procedures necessary to implement this section.	SECTION 1. Section 13.046, Election Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c-1) and (i) and amending Subsection (h) to read as follows: (c-1) A high school shall always make available registration application forms to students and employees of the school. (h) The secretary of state shall: (1) consult with the Texas Education Agency regarding the number of registration application forms to provide to each high school; (2) provide to each high school registration application forms in the number determined from the consultation under Subdivision (1); and (3) prescribe any additional procedures necessary to implement this section. (i) A registration application form provided or made available under this section must be in the form of the officially prescribed application form for registration by mail under Section 13.121.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3. 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, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.