88R24377 PRL-F
 
  By: Smith H.B. No. 4780
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4780:
 
  By:  Capriglione C.S.H.B. No. 4780
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to early voting ballots voted by mail.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 64.0322(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The secretary of state shall prescribe the form required
  by this section.  The form must be incorporated into the official
  carrier envelope or signature sheet contained in the official
  carrier envelope if the voter is voting an early voting ballot by
  mail and receives assistance under Section 86.010, or must be
  submitted to an election officer at the time the voter casts a
  ballot if the voter is voting at a polling place or under Section
  64.009.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 86.002(b) and (g), Election Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Before providing the balloting materials to the voter,
  the clerk shall enter on the signature sheet contained in the
  carrier envelope the identity and date of the election.
         (g)  The signature sheet contained in the carrier envelope
  must include a space [that is hidden from view when the envelope is
  sealed] for the voter to enter the following information:
               (1)  the number of the voter's driver's license,
  election identification certificate, or personal identification
  card issued by the Department of Public Safety;
               (2)  if the voter has not been issued a number described
  by Subdivision (1), the last four digits of the voter's social
  security number; or
               (3)  a statement by the applicant that the applicant
  has not been issued a number described by Subdivision (1) or (2).
         SECTION 3.  Section 86.010(e), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  A person who assists a voter to prepare a ballot to be
  voted by mail shall enter on:
               (1)  the official carrier envelope of the voter[:
               [(1)]  the person's signature, printed name, and
  residence address; and
               (2)  the signature sheet contained in the official
  carrier envelope:
                     (A)  the relationship of the person providing the
  assistance to the voter; and
                     (B) [(3)]  whether the person received or
  accepted any form of compensation or other benefit from a
  candidate, campaign, or political committee in exchange for
  providing assistance.
         SECTION 4.  Section 86.013, Election Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) and adding
  Subsection (h) to read as follows:
         (b)  Spaces must appear on the signature sheet contained in
  [reverse side of] the official carrier envelope for:
               (1)  indicating the identity and date of the election;
               (2)  entering the signature, printed name, and
  residence address of a person other than the voter who deposits the
  carrier envelope in the mail or with a common or contract carrier;
  and
               (3)  indicating the relationship of that person to the
  voter.
         (d)  The following textual material, as prescribed by the
  secretary of state, must be printed on the signature sheet
  contained in [reverse side of] the official carrier envelope [or on
  a separate sheet accompanying the carrier envelope] when it is
  provided:
               (1)  the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(b);
               (2)  the conditions for delivery by common or contract
  carrier prescribed by Sections 81.005 and 86.006;
               (3)  the requirements for the legal execution and
  delivery of the carrier envelope, including the prohibition on
  compensation for depositing carrier envelopes containing ballots
  voted by other persons under Section 86.0052;
               (4)  the prohibition prescribed by Section 86.006(e);
  and
               (5)  the offenses prescribed by Sections 86.006(f) and
  86.010(f).
         (e)  The following notice must be printed on the signature
  sheet contained in [reverse side of] the official carrier envelope,
  near the space provided for the voter's signature:  "This envelope
  must be sealed by the voter before it leaves the voter's hands.  Do
  not sign this envelope unless the ballot has been marked by you or
  at your direction."
         (f)  The oath of a person assisting a voter must be included
  on the signature sheet contained in the official carrier envelope
  as part of the certificate prescribed by Subsection (c).
         (g)  The secretary of state by rule shall require that a
  notice informing voters of the telephone number established under
  Section 31.0055 and the purpose of the telephone number be printed
  on the signature sheet[:
               [(1)  the official carrier envelope; or
               [(2)  an insert] enclosed with the balloting materials
  for voting by mail sent to the voter.
         (h)  The secretary of state shall prescribe the form and
  content of the signature sheet that satisfies requirements of this
  code.
         SECTION 5.  Section 272.011(b), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The secretary of state shall prepare the translation for
  election materials required to be provided in a language other than
  English or Spanish for the following state prescribed voter forms:
               (1)  voter registration application form required by
  Section 13.002;
               (2)  the confirmation form required by Section 15.051;
               (3)  the voting instruction poster required by Section
  62.011;
               (4)  the reasonable impediment declaration required by
  Section 63.001(b);
               (5)  the statement of residence form required by
  Section 63.0011;
               (6)  the provisional ballot affidavit required by
  Section 63.011;
               (7)  the application for a ballot by mail required by
  Section 84.011;
               (8)  the carrier envelope, signature sheet, and voting
  instructions required by Section 86.013; and
               (9)  any other voter forms that the secretary of state
  identifies as frequently used and for which state resources are
  otherwise available.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.