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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the political activities of certain county elections |
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administrators. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 31.035(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In the county in which a county elections administrator |
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serves, the [A county elections] administrator may not be a |
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candidate for a public office or an office of a political party, |
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hold a public office, or hold an office of or position in a |
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political party. At the time an administrator becomes a candidate |
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or accepts an office or position in violation of this subsection, |
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the administrator vacates the position of administrator. |
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(b) In the county in which a county elections administrator |
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serves, the [A county elections] administrator commits an offense |
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if the administrator makes a political contribution or political |
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expenditure, as defined by the law regulating political funds and |
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campaigns, or publicly supports or opposes a candidate for public |
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office or a measure to be voted on at an election. An offense under |
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this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor. On a final conviction, |
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the administrator's employment is terminated, and the person |
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convicted is ineligible for future appointment as county elections |
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administrator. |
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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. |