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AN ACT
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relating to the residency requirement to be eligible for public |
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office. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 141.001, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) For purposes of satisfying the continuous residency |
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requirement of Subsection (a)(5), a person who claims an intent to |
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return to a residence after a temporary absence may establish that |
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intent only if the person: |
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(1) has made a reasonable and substantive attempt to |
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effectuate that intent; and |
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(2) has a legal right and the practical ability to |
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return to the residence. |
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(a-2) Subsection (a-1) does not apply to a person displaced |
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from the person's residence due to a declared local, state, or |
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national disaster. |
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(a-3) The authority with whom an application for a place on |
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a general primary election ballot is filed under Section 172.022 |
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shall, to the extent permitted by law, use Subsections (a) and (a-1) |
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in determining whether a candidate meets the residency requirements |
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for a public elective office. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a candidate in an |
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election held on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2020. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 831 was passed by the House on May 8, |
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2019, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 6, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 831 was passed by the Senate on May |
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22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |