By: Springer  S.B. No. 1807
         (In the Senate - Filed March 7, 2023; March 20, 2023, read
  first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  April 5, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 3; April 5, 2023,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1807 By:  Hughes
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the unlawful altering of election procedures; providing
  a civil penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 276.019, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 276.019.  UNLAWFUL ALTERING OF ELECTION PROCEDURES;
  CIVIL PENALTY(a) A public official or election official may not
  create, alter, modify, waive, or suspend any election standard,
  practice, or procedure mandated by law or rule in a manner not
  expressly authorized by this code.
         (b)  After the secretary of state receives or discovers
  information indicating that a public official or election official
  has violated Subsection (a), the secretary of state shall
  investigate the standard, practice, or procedure appearing to have
  violated Subsection (a). If the secretary of state determines that
  a violation of Subsection (a) has occurred, the secretary of state
  shall send to the public official or election official determined
  to have violated that subsection:
               (1)  notification of the secretary of state's
  determination;
               (2)  a demand that the official immediately cease the
  implementation or enforcement of the standard, practice, or
  procedure determined to have violated Subsection (a); and
               (3)  instructions for the specific actions necessary
  for compliance with Subsection (a).
         (c)  If, more than two days after receiving notification
  under Subsection (b), a public official or election official does
  not comply with Subsection (a) as instructed under Subsection
  (b)(3), the secretary of state shall:
               (1)  notify the attorney general that the official may
  be subject to a civil penalty under Subsection (d); and
               (2)  forward to the attorney general any documents or
  information received, discovered, or created during the secretary
  of state's investigation under Subsection (b).
         (d)  A public official or election official is liable to this
  state for a civil penalty for each day that the official fails or
  refuses to take an affirmative action to comply with Subsection (a)
  in an amount not to exceed:
               (1)  $1,000 per day for each day after the second day
  and on or before the seventh day after receiving a notice under
  Subsection (b); or
               (2)  $5,000 per day for each day after the seventh day
  after receiving a notice under Subsection (b).
         (e)  The attorney general may bring an action to recover a
  civil penalty imposed under Subsection (d).
         (f)  A civil penalty collected by the attorney general under
  this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit
  of the general revenue fund.
         (g)  Documents or information received, discovered, or
  created during the secretary of state's investigation under
  Subsection (b) are confidential and not subject to disclosure under
  Chapter 552, Government Code, unless the secretary of state or
  attorney general has determined that a complaint submitted to the
  secretary of state under this section will not be further
  investigated or the subject of any further proceedings or actions.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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