BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1611
86R13930 SRS-D	By: Hall
	State Affairs
	3/29/2019
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Reports of various types of election fraud have become more widespread than ever before and threaten to undermine the trust of Texans in the accuracy of state elections. In order to maintain the freedom of our state, measures must be taken to reform key areas of our state's election code such as ensuring that the statewide voter registration list is frequently updated and enforced.

 

This bill would:

 

• Create an offense for local registrars who fail to correct a violation under Election Code Sections 15.083 (delivering suspense list to the secretary of state), 16.032 (canceling registration on suspense list), and 18.061 (implementing and updating statewide computerized voter list).

 

• Requires the secretary of state (SOS) to notify registrars of any violations, and requires registrars to take corrective action within 30 days of the notice.

 

• Requires SOS to monitor each registrar in the state once per quarter.

 

• Establishes a state jail felony penalty for violation.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1611 amends current law relating to a voter registrar's compliance with certain laws and secretary of state rules; and creates a criminal offense.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 18.065, Election Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e), as follows:

 

(a) Requires the secretary of state (SOS) to quarterly monitor each registrar for substantial compliance with certain sections and with rules implementing the statewide computerized voter registration list.

 

(e) Provides that a registrar who fails to correct a violation within 30 days of the receipt of a notice under Subsection (b) (relating to requiring SOS to deliver a written notice, on determining that a registrar is not in substantial compliance, that includes a certain description and explanation) commits an offense. Provides that an offense under this subsection is a state jail felony.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.

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