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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of information from the lists of noncitizens |
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excused or disqualified from jury service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 18, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 18.070 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 18.070. COMPARISON OF VOTING HISTORY INFORMATION TO |
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CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING INELIGIBILITY. (a) The secretary |
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of state shall annually compare the voting history information |
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received under Section 18.069 to the information received under |
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Section 62.113, Government Code. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall maintain a list of the name |
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and address of each person who has been excused or disqualified from |
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jury service because the person is not a citizen of the United |
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States, compiled from each list created under Section 62.113, |
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Government Code. |
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(c) The secretary of state may refer information the |
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secretary has in connection with Subsection (a) to the attorney |
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general in accordance with Section 31.006. |
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SECTION 2. Section 62.113, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.113. COMPILATION OF LIST OF NONCITIZENS. (a) The |
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clerk of the court shall maintain a list of the name and address of |
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each person who is excused or disqualified under this subchapter |
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from jury service because the person is not a citizen of the United |
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States. |
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(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall |
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send a copy of the list of persons excused or disqualified because |
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of citizenship in the previous month to: |
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(1) the voter registrar of the county; |
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(2) the secretary of state; and |
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(3) the county or district attorney, as applicable, |
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for an investigation of whether the person committed an offense |
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under Section 13.007, Election Code, or other law. |
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(c) [A list compiled under this section may not be used for a
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purpose other than a purpose described by Subsection (b) or Section
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16.0332 or 18.068, Election Code.
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[(d)
A person commits an offense if the person violates
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Subsection (c). An offense under this section is a Class C
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misdemeanor.
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[(e)] The information required to be filed with the |
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secretary of state under this section must be filed electronically. |
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The secretary of state may waive this requirement on application |
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for a waiver submitted by the clerk. |
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SECTION 3. An offense under Section 62.113(d), Government |
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Code, may not be prosecuted after the effective date of this Act. |
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If on the effective date of this Act a criminal action is pending |
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for an offense under that section, the action is dismissed on that |
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date. However, a final conviction for an offense under that section |
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that exists on the effective date of this Act is unaffected by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |