88R7230 MPF-D
 
  By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 1907
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to preparing and delivering precinct election returns;
  increasing a criminal penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 65.014(e), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  An offense under Subsection (d) is a Class A [B]
  misdemeanor.
         SECTION 2.  Section 66.055, Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 66.055.  FAILURE TO DELIVER [JUDICIAL IMPOUNDMENT OF]
  ELECTION RECORDS.  (a)  If the precinct election records are not
  delivered by the deadline prescribed by Section 66.053(c):
               (1)  the secretary of state may supervise the
  activities necessary to complete the count, prepare the precinct
  returns, and distribute the records; or
               (2)[,] on application by a member of the canvassing
  authority, a district judge shall order the precinct election
  records to be impounded.
         (b)  If the precinct election records are impounded under
  Subsection (a)(2), the [The] district judge shall supervise the
  activities necessary to complete the count, prepare the precinct
  returns, and distribute the records.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act in amending
  Section 65.014(e), Election Code, applies only to an offense
  committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense
  committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this
  section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this
  Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.