H.B. No. 2628

AN ACT

relating to the manner of reporting and maintaining certain information relating to candidates and election returns.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 67.007(a), (c), and (d), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) For each election for a statewide, [or] district, county, or precinct office, a statewide measure, or president and vice-president of the United States, the county clerk of each county in the territory covered by the election shall prepare county election returns.

(c) The county clerk shall certify [sign] the county returns [to certify their accuracy].

(d) Not later than 24 hours after completion of the local canvass, the county clerk shall deliver to the secretary of state, in the manner directed by the secretary, the county returns [in a sealed envelope]. [The envelope shall be labeled: "Election Returns for __________ (name) County, for __________(election)."]

SECTION 2. Sections 67.008(b) and (c), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) The returns shall be delivered to the secretary of state as provided by Section 67.007. [, except that the envelope shall be labeled: "Returns of Election for Governor/Lieutenant Governor, __________ (name) County, for __________(election)."]

(c) The secretary of state shall retain the returns [in their sealed condition] until the first day of the next regular legislative session, when the secretary shall deliver the returns to the speaker of the house of representatives.

SECTION 3. Section 67.009(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) With the delivery of the official county returns forms, the secretary of state shall deliver[:

[(1)] written instructions on the preparation and delivery of the county election returns[; and

[(2) the officially prescribed envelopes for delivering the returns to the secretary].

SECTION 4. Section 181.032, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(b) Not later than the 10th day after the date of the filing deadline prescribed by Section 181.033, the authority with whom an application is filed shall deliver to the secretary of state a list containing:

(1) each candidate's name;

(2) each candidate's residence address;

(3) the office sought by the candidate; [and]

(4) the date on which the candidate filed the application; and

(5) any additional information required by the secretary of state.

(c) A list delivered under Subsection (b) must be in a format prescribed by the secretary of state.

SECTION 5. Section 181.068(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The presiding officer of each convention held under this chapter shall certify, in a format prescribed by the secretary of state, [writing] for placement on the general election ballot the name and address of each candidate nominated by the convention.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2628 was passed by the House on May 10, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 2, 2 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2628 on May 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 7, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2628 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor