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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding cyber attacks on election |
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infrastructure. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 276.011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 276.011. ELECTION CYBER ATTACK STUDY. (a) Not later |
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than December 1, 2018, the secretary of state shall: |
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(1) conduct a study regarding cyber attacks on |
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election infrastructure; |
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(2) prepare a public summary report on the study's |
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findings that does not contain any information the release of which |
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may compromise any election; |
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(3) prepare a confidential report on specific findings |
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and vulnerabilities that is exempt from disclosure under Chapter |
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552, Government Code; and |
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(4) submit a copy of the report required under |
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Subdivision (2) and a general compilation of the report required |
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under Subdivision (3) that does not contain any information the |
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release of which may compromise any election to the standing |
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committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over election |
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procedures. |
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(b) The study must include: |
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(1) an investigation of vulnerabilities and risks for |
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a cyber attack against a county's voting system machines or the list |
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of registered voters; |
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(2) information on any attempted cyber attack on a |
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county's voting system machines or the list of registered voters; |
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and |
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(3) recommendations for protecting a county's voting |
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system machines and list of registered voters from a cyber attack. |
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(c) The secretary of state, using existing resources, may |
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contract with a qualified vendor to conduct the study required by |
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this section. |
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(d) This section expires January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |