81R29431 ALB-D
By: Farias H.B. No. 4389
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4389:
By: Rose C.S.H.B. No. 4389
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to procedures and forms for combining health and human
services benefits applications with voter registration
applications.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 20, Election Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter F to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION AND HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES
Sec. 20.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Executive commissioner" means the executive
commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.
(3) "Health and human services agencies" has the
meaning assigned by Section 531.001, Government Code.
Sec. 20.152. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
provisions of this chapter apply to the commission and health and
human services agencies except provisions that conflict with this
subchapter.
Sec. 20.153. FORMS AND PROCEDURES. (a) The executive
commissioner shall prescribe and require use by the commission and
health and human services agencies of forms and procedures that
combine each application form for a benefits program administered
by the commission or a health and human services agency with an
officially prescribed voter registration application form.
(b) The executive commissioner shall prescribe and require
use by the commission and health and human services agencies of a
change of address form and procedure that combines commission or
health and human services agency functions and voter registration
functions. The form must allow a recipient of benefits to indicate
whether the change of address is also to be used for voter
registration purposes.
(c) The design, content, and physical characteristics of
the forms required by this section must be approved by the secretary
of state.
(d) Forms required under this section must include the
following statement in a prominent location: "If you are not a
citizen of the United States, it is illegal for you to register to
vote."
Sec. 20.154. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) If a person
completes a voter registration application provided under Section
20.153, the commission or health and human services agency, as
appropriate, shall:
(1) input the information provided on the application
into the commission's or agency's electronic data system; and
(2) inform the applicant that the applicant's
electronic signature provided to the commission or agency will be
used for submitting the applicant's voter registration
application.
(b) Not later than the fifth day after the date an applicant
completes a voter registration application and provides an
electronic signature to the commission or health and human services
agency, the commission or agency, as applicable, shall
electronically transfer the applicant's voter registration data,
including the applicant's signature, to the secretary of state.
(c) The secretary of state shall prescribe additional
procedures as necessary to implement this section.
Sec. 20.155. DECLINATION FORM NOT REQUIRED. The commission
and the health and human services agencies are not required to
comply with the procedures prescribed by this chapter relating to
the form for a declination of voter registration.
SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and
Human Services Commission shall prescribe the forms and procedures
necessary to implement Subchapter F, Chapter 20, Election Code, as
added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2011.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.