85R1252 ADM-D
 
  By: Garcia S.B. No. 144
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of a mobile phone by a person occupying a voting
  station.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.014, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read
  as follows:
         (a)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, a [A]
  person may not use a wireless communication device within 100 feet
  of a voting station.
         (b)  A person may not use any mechanical or electronic means
  to record [of recording] images or sound within 100 feet of a voting
  station.
         (e)  A person who is occupying a voting station may use the
  person's mobile phone to access information that was downloaded or
  created on the phone before the person entered the polling place.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 62.0111, Election Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 62.0111.  NOTICE OF PROHIBITION OF RECORDING [CERTAIN
  DEVICES].
         SECTION 3.  Section 62.0111(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  At the discretion of the presiding judge, notice of the
  prohibition of image and sound recording [the use of certain
  devices] under Section 61.014 may be posted at one or more locations
  in the polling place where it can be read by persons waiting to
  vote.
         SECTION 4.  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.