| 1 | 1 | | 81R7582 CS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Farias H.B. No. 1927 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to Voter Education Week. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Section 31.015 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 31.015. VOTER EDUCATION WEEK. (a) To educate Texans |
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| 12 | 12 | | about the importance of voting to a healthy democracy, the second |
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| 13 | 13 | | week of September is designated as Voter Education Week. |
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| 14 | 14 | | (b) The secretary of state shall develop a program that |
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| 15 | 15 | | raises awareness about voter registration and balloting procedures |
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| 16 | 16 | | and educates the public about the candidates and issues through |
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| 17 | 17 | | nonpartisan voter guides and public forums. The secretary of state |
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| 18 | 18 | | may distribute sample ballots, record public service |
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| 19 | 19 | | announcements, and utilize other public awareness methods as part |
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| 20 | 20 | | of the program. The secretary of state, in cooperation with voter |
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| 21 | 21 | | registrars, may promote Voter Education Week through a coordinated |
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| 22 | 22 | | program that meets the requirements of this subsection. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (c) Not later than January 31 of each odd-numbered year, the |
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| 24 | 24 | | secretary of state shall report on the implementation of this |
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| 25 | 25 | | section and the effectiveness of the program in increasing voter |
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| 26 | 26 | | registration and turnout to the governor, lieutenant governor, and |
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| 27 | 27 | | speaker of the house of representatives. |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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