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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring notice regarding the potential eligibility to |
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vote of certain persons convicted of a felony. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter O, Chapter 42A, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, is amended by adding Article 42A.703 to read as follows: |
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Art. 42A.703. NOTICE REGARDING POTENTIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR |
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VOTER REGISTRATION. A judge who discharges under Article 42A.701 a |
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defendant placed on community supervision for a felony shall notify |
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the defendant, in writing, that the defendant may be eligible to |
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register to vote under Section 13.001, Election Code. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 493.035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 493.035. NOTICE REGARDING POTENTIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR |
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VOTER REGISTRATION. (a) In this section, "offender" means an |
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inmate or state jail defendant. |
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(b) The department shall notify, in writing, an offender who |
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completes the offender's sentence, including any period of parole |
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or mandatory supervision, that the offender may be eligible to |
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register to vote under Section 13.001, Election Code. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a person who fully discharges a sentence, including any term of |
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incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completes a period of |
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probation ordered by any court on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |