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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to verification of the citizenship status of certain |
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registered voters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 16.0332, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (d), and (e) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) After the registrar receives notification [a list] |
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under Subsection (a-1) of this section, Section 18.068 of this |
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code, or Section 62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or |
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disqualified from jury service because of citizenship status or |
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notification of persons who have indicated a lack of citizenship |
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status in connection with a motor vehicle or Department of Public |
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Safety record, the registrar shall deliver to each registered voter |
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whose name appears on the list a written notice requiring the voter |
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to submit to the registrar proof of United States citizenship in the |
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form of a certified copy of the voter's birth certificate, United |
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States passport, or certificate of naturalization or any other form |
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prescribed by the secretary of state. The notice shall be delivered |
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by forwardable mail to the mailing address on the voter's |
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registration application and to any new address of the voter known |
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to the registrar. |
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(a-1) The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement |
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with the Department of Public Safety under which information in the |
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statewide computerized voter registration list is compared against |
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information in the database of the Department of Public Safety on a |
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monthly basis to verify the accuracy of citizenship status |
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information provided on voter registration applications. The |
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information compared must include, at a minimum, a voter's: |
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(1) full legal name; |
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(2) former name, if applicable; |
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(3) date of birth; |
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(4) residence address; |
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(5) driver's license or state identification card |
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number; |
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(6) social security number; |
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(7) documentation of lawful presence in this state; |
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and |
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(8) citizenship status. |
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(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe rules for the |
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administration of this section. |
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(e) Not later than December 31 of each year, the secretary |
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of state shall provide a report to the legislature of the number of |
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voter registrations canceled under this section during the calendar |
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year. |
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SECTION 2. 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 September 1, 2021. |