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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing certain election information on the highway |
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changeable message sign system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 544.013, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation |
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with local governments shall actively manage a system of changeable |
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message signs located on highways under the jurisdiction of the |
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department to: |
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(1) mitigate traffic congestion by providing current |
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information to the traveling public, including information about |
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traffic incidents, weather conditions, road construction, and |
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alternative routes when applicable; and |
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(2) provide information regarding the date of an |
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election held statewide and the associated voter registration |
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deadline for the election. |
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(c) The Texas Department of Transportation, in consultation |
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with the secretary of state, shall establish a plan to provide the |
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information described by Subsection (b)(2) using the system of |
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changeable message signs managed under this section. The plan |
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established under this subsection must require the information |
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described by Subsection (b)(2) to be posted on the system in English |
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and Spanish for the following periods: |
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(1) two days before voting begins in the election |
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through the end of election day; and |
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(2) two days before the deadline for voter |
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registration through the end of the last day of voter registration |
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for the election. |
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(d) The plan established under Subsection (c) must also |
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require that the information described by Subsection (b)(2) not be |
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posted on a changeable message sign if the posting would interfere |
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with another safety or emergency alert, including an alert |
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providing information described by Subsection (b)(1). |
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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. |