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  87R178 GRM-F
 
  By: Shaheen H.B. No. 463
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to ineligibility to serve as a poll watcher.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 33.006(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A certificate of appointment must:
               (1)  be in writing and signed by the appointing
  authority or, for an appointment for a write-in candidate under
  Section 33.004, by each of the voters making the appointment;
               (2)  indicate the capacity in which the appointing
  authority is acting;
               (3)  state the name, residence address, and voter
  registration number of the appointee and be signed by the
  appointee;
               (4)  identify the election and the precinct polling
  place or other location at which the appointee is to serve;
               (5)  in an election on a measure, identify the measure
  if more than one is to be voted on and state which side of the
  measure the appointee represents; and
               (6)  contain an affidavit executed by the appointee
  stating that the appointee:
                     (A)  will not have possession of a device capable
  of recording images or sound or that the appointee will disable or
  deactivate the device while serving as a watcher; and
                     (B)  has not been finally convicted of a felony
  offense.
         SECTION 2.  Section 33.035, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 33.035.  INELIGIBILITY OF PERSON CONVICTED OF CERTAIN
  OFFENSES [ELECTION OFFENSE]. A person is ineligible to serve as a
  watcher in an election if the person has been finally convicted of:
               (1)  a felony offense; or
               (2)  a misdemeanor [an] offense in connection with
  conduct directly attributable to an election.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.