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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to recognition of certain identification documents by |
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governmental officials. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 620 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 620. RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS |
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Sec. 620.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Governmental entity" means: |
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(A) the state; |
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(B) a political subdivision of the state, |
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including a municipality, a county, or any kind of district; or |
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(C) an institution, board, commission, office, |
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department, court, or other agency: |
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(i) in the executive, judicial, or |
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legislative branch of state government, including an institution of |
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higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or |
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(ii) of a political subdivision of the |
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state. |
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(2) "Governmental official" means an employee, agent, |
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or elected or appointed official of a governmental entity. The term |
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does not include an election officer accepting a voter under |
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Chapter 63, Election Code. |
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Sec. 620.002. RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN IDENTIFICATION |
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DOCUMENTS BY GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS. (a) A governmental official |
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may not accept, rely on, or otherwise use an identification |
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document for the purpose of determining a person's identity or |
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residency unless the document is expressly authorized for that |
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purpose under Subsection (b). |
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(b) The secretary of state by rule shall specify the |
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identification documents that may be accepted by a governmental |
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official. Rules adopted under this subsection: |
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(1) may not authorize an identification document |
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issued by a political subdivision of this state; and |
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(2) must require that foreign identification |
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documents include appropriate security measures to ensure |
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authenticity. |
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Sec. 620.003. CERTAIN IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT POLICIES |
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PROHIBITED. (a) A governmental entity may not adopt or enforce a |
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rule, ordinance, order, policy, or other measure that is |
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inconsistent with Section 620.002. |
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(b) A rule, ordinance, order, policy, or other measure that |
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is inconsistent with Section 620.002 is void. |
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Sec. 620.004. EFFECT ON ELECTION LAW. This chapter may not |
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be construed to have any effect on state election law, including the |
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acceptable forms of photo identification under Chapter 63, Election |
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Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |