BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4034
85R14556 GRM-F	By: Bohac (Bettencourt)
	State Affairs
	5/16/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Interested parties note that under current law, the voter information provided on a ballot by mail application received by an early voting clerk cannot be given to the voter registrar to update a voter's registration information. Oftentimes, the voter will provide new information that they expect will be added to their voter registration information, such as their date of birth, driver's license number, or social security number. H.B. 4034 seeks to require the early voting clerk to notify the voter registrar if an applicant provides this information and directs the voter registrar to update the voter's record with the information provided by the applicant.

H.B. 4034 amends current law relating to updating a voter's information using information provided on a federal postcard application or an application for an early voting ballot.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 16.031(a), Election Code, to require the registrar to cancel a voter's registration immediately on the receipt of notice from the early voting clerk under Section 101.053, rather than Section 101.0041, that a federal postcard application submitted by an applicant states a voting residence address located outside the registrar's county.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, by adding Section 84.014, as follows:

Sec. 84.014.� ACTION BY EARLY VOTING CLERK ON CERTAIN APPLICATIONS. Requires the early voting clerk, if an applicant provides a date of birth, driver's license number, or social security number on the applicant's application for an early voting ballot to be voted by mail that is different from or in addition to the information maintained by the voter registrar in accordance with Title 2 (Voter Qualifications and Registration), to notify the voter registrar. Requires the voter registrar to update the voter's record with the information provided by the applicant.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 101.053, Election Code, as follows:

Sec. 101.053.� ACTION BY EARLY VOTING CLERK ON CERTAIN APPLICATIONS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes to this subsection.

(b) Requires the early voting clerk, if an applicant provides a date of birth, driver's license number, or social security number on the applicant's federal postcard application that is different from or in addition to the information maintained by the voter registrar in accordance with Title 2, to notify the voter registrar. Requires the voter registrar to update the voter's record with the information provided by the applicant.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.