Amend CSSB 7 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  Sections 276.004(a) and (b), Election Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a)  A person commits an offense if, with respect to another person over whom the person has authority in the scope of employment, the person knowingly:

(1)  refuses to permit the other person to be absent from work on election day or while early voting is in progress for the purpose of attending the polls to vote; or

(2)  subjects or threatens to subject the other person to a penalty for attending the polls on election day or while early voting is in progress to vote.

(b)  It is an exception to the application of this section that the person's conduct occurs in connection with an election in which the polls are open on election day or while early voting is in progress for voting for two consecutive hours outside of the voter's working hours.