87R7728 EAS-D

By: Crockett H.B. No. 1945

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to voter education for residents of certain long-term care facilities.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 31.0125 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.0125. VOTER EDUCATION PAMPHLET FOR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS. (a) In this section, "long-term care facility" means a facility licensed under Chapter 242, 247, or 252, Health and Safety Code.

(b) The secretary of state shall develop a voter education pamphlet for long-term care facility residents. The pamphlet must include information on:

(1) a resident's voting rights, including information contained in the notice of voters' rights publicized under Section 62.0115; and

(2) the voting process, including general information on common deceptive practices and disenfranchisement methods that may occur during the voting process.

(c) The secretary of state shall make the voter education pamphlet available on the secretary's Internet website.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 242.020 to read as follows:

Sec. 242.020. VOTER EDUCATION FOR RESIDENTS. (a) In this section, "voter education pamphlet" means the voter education pamphlet for long-term care facility residents developed by the secretary of state under Section 31.0125, Election Code.

(b) A nursing facility employee shall, not later than the 30th day before the date of an election in which residents are generally eligible to vote and using information contained in the voter education pamphlet as a reference, inform each resident, verbally and in an audible and intelligible manner, of the resident's voting rights and the voting process.

(c) Each nursing facility shall make copies of the voter education pamphlet available in common areas of the facility.

SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 247, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 247.072 to read as follows:

Sec. 247.072. VOTER EDUCATION FOR RESIDENTS. (a) In this section, "voter education pamphlet" means the voter education pamphlet for long-term care facility residents developed by the secretary of state under Section 31.0125, Election Code.

(b) An assisted living facility employee shall, not later than the 30th day before the date of an election in which facility residents are generally eligible to vote and using information contained in the voter education pamphlet as a reference, inform each resident, verbally and in an audible and intelligible manner, of the resident's voting rights and the voting process.

(c) Each assisted living facility shall make copies of the voter education pamphlet available in common areas of the facility.

SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 252, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 252.012 to read as follows:

Sec. 252.012. VOTER EDUCATION FOR RESIDENTS. (a) In this section, "voter education pamphlet" means the voter education pamphlet for long-term care facility residents developed by the secretary of state under Section 31.0125, Election Code.

(b) A facility employee shall, not later than the 30th day before the date of an election in which residents are generally eligible to vote and using information contained in the voter education pamphlet as a reference, inform each resident, verbally and in an audible and intelligible manner, of the resident's voting rights and the voting process.

(c) Each facility shall make copies of the voter education pamphlet available in common areas of the facility.

SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the secretary of state shall develop the voter education pamphlet for long-term care facility residents required by Section 31.0125, Election Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.