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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the responsibilities of the tabulation supervisor of a |
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central counting station; providing a civil penalty |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 127.003, Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 127.003. TABULATION SUPERVISOR. (a) The authority |
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establishing a central counting station shall appoint a tabulation |
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supervisor of the station. Except as otherwise provided by this |
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section, the eligibility requirements prescribed by this code for |
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precinct election judges apply to a person appointed under this |
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section. |
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(b) To be eligible for appointment, a person must be: |
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(1) trained in the operation of the automatic |
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tabulating equipment installed at the counting station; and |
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(2) a registered voter of the political subdivision |
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served by the authority establishing the counting station or an |
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employee of the political subdivision that adopts or owns the |
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voting system. |
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(c) Employees of a political subdivision are not |
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disqualified from appointment and, if appointed, may be paid |
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additional compensation for their services. |
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(d) The tabulation supervisor is in charge of the operation |
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of the automatic tabulating equipment at the counting station. |
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(e) The tabulation supervisor is in charge of ensuring that |
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the counting of ballots shall be conducted continuously until all |
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the ballots are counted. |
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(f) A tabulation supervisor commits an offense if the |
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tabulation supervisor fails to comply with a requirement under this |
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section. The Attorney General shall assess a civil penalty of $500 |
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for an offense under this section. The tabulation supervisor shall |
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be personally liable for any penalties assessed by the Attorney |
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General. |
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(g) The tabulation supervisor is entitled to compensation |
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in an amount fixed by the authority establishing the counting |
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station. |
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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, 2025. |