| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a strategic plan by the secretary of state to increase |
|
|
voter turnout. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 31.014 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 31.014. VOTER TURNOUT STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The |
|
|
secretary of state shall prepare and implement a strategic plan |
|
|
aimed at increasing voter turnout. |
|
|
(b) In developing the plan, the secretary of state shall use |
|
|
evidence-based methods of increasing voter turnout and shall |
|
|
collaborate with institutions of higher education to determine the |
|
|
most appropriate measures of success and develop performance |
|
|
benchmarks for the increase in voter turnout. |
|
|
(c) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
|
|
the secretary of state shall report on the progress of the strategic |
|
|
plan under this section in increasing voter turnout using the most |
|
|
recently updated data to the standing committee of each house of the |
|
|
legislature with primary jurisdiction over election matters. |
|
|
(d) This section expires January 1, 2025. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The secretary of state shall adopt the strategic |
|
|
plan under Section 31.014, Election Code, as added by this Act, not |
|
|
later than January 1, 2020, to be fully implemented not later than |
|
|
December 31, 2024. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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, 2019. |