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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notifications given to a person convicted of a felony |
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concerning the person's eligibility to vote. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 42.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Section 6 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 6. The court after pronouncing the sentence of a |
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defendant convicted of a felony shall inform the defendant, in |
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writing using clear language, of how the felony conviction will |
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impact the defendant's right to vote in this state. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 15.029 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 15.029. NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY BY |
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SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) This section applies to a person who is |
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ineligible to vote in this state under Section 13.001(a)(4) because |
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the person was finally convicted of a felony. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall coordinate with the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Public Safety, |
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and any other relevant agency to determine when a person to whom |
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this section applies has regained eligibility to vote in accordance |
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with Section 13.001(a)(4)(A) or (B). |
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(c) At the time a person to whom this section applies |
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regains eligibility to vote, the secretary of state shall use best |
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efforts to provide the person with: |
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(1) a notice informing the person in plain language |
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that the person may be eligible to register to vote, including |
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instructions for registration; and |
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(2) a voter registration application. |
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(d) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary's |
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Internet website a generic version of the notice described by |
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Subsection (c)(1). |
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(e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |