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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the secretary of state posting on the secretary of |
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state's Internet website databases containing certain information |
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about elections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 4.003, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(e) The authority responsible for giving notice of the |
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election shall deliver: |
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(1) to the secretary of state a copy of the notice of a |
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consolidated precinct required by Subsection (b) not later than the |
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date of the election; and |
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(2) in January of each year information for the |
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secretary of state's database of election information under Section |
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31.017 in an electronic format as follows: |
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(A) if the authority is a county or political |
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party, as required by the secretary of state; or |
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(B) if the authority is a political subdivision |
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other than a county, to the county in which the authority is |
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located. |
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(e-1) A county receiving information under Subsection |
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(e)(2)(B) shall forward the information to the secretary of state. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 31.017 and 31.018 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.017. INTERNET DATABASE OF ELECTION INFORMATION. |
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(a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary of state's |
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public Internet website a database containing information provided |
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under Sections 4.003(e) and (e-1). The database must include the |
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following information: |
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(1) the name of the authority; |
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(2) each office to be filled at the election; |
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(3) whether the office is elected at large or by |
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district; and |
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(4) the dates of the preceding and next election for |
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the office. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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Sec. 31.018. INTERNET DATABASE FOR INCUMBENTS AND |
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CANDIDATES. (a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary |
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of state's Internet website a database containing information about |
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each holder of and candidate for any partisan elected office in this |
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state. |
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(b) The database must include the following information |
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about a holder of a partisan elected office, the office of mayor, or |
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a position on the governing body of a city: |
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(1) name; |
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(2) office title, including any district, place, or |
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position and a notation that the person is an incumbent; |
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(3) if the office is elected at large or by district; |
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(4) date of the previous and next election for the |
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office; |
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(5) public mailing address; |
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(6) public telephone number, if available; and |
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(7) public e-mail address, if available. |
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(c) The database must include the following information |
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about a candidate for a partisan elected office, the office of |
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mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city: |
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(1) name; |
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(2) office sought, including any district, place, or |
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position; |
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(3) if the office is elected at large or by district; |
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(4) date of the election; |
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(5) public mailing address; |
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(6) public telephone number, if available; |
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(7) public e-mail address, if available; and |
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(8) if the candidate has filed as a write-in |
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candidate. |
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(d) The county with whom a declaration of candidacy is |
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filed, a state or county chair of a political party, or the |
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presiding officer of a political party's convention shall provide |
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information about a candidate or officeholder to the secretary of |
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state. A political subdivision shall provide information about a |
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candidate or officeholder to the county in which the political |
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subdivision is located and the county shall forward that |
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information to the secretary of state. |
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(e) The secretary of state shall make the name, office, and |
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party affiliation of the holder of a partisan elected office, the |
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office of mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city |
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available on the secretary of state's Internet website for as long |
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as the person holds that office. |
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(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 141.032, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
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(h) A county or political party with whom an application is |
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filed shall provide the secretary of state with the candidate's |
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information required for the secretary of state's Internet website |
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under Section 31.018. A political subdivision with whom an |
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application is filed shall provide the candidate's information to |
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the county in which the political subdivision is located and the |
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county shall forward the candidate's information to the secretary |
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of state. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |