81R508 ATP-F
By: Harris S.B. No. 268
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the cancellation of the voter registrations of persons
who are not United States citizens.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 62.0142, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 62.0142. NOTICE ON WRITTEN SUMMONS. If a written
summons for jury duty allows a person to claim a disqualification or
exemption by signing a statement and returning it to the clerk of
the court, the form must notify the person that by claiming a
disqualification or exemption based on the lack of citizenship or
lack of residence in the county the person shall [might] no longer
be eligible to vote in the county.
SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 62.113, Government Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall
send a copy of the list of persons excused or disqualified because
of citizenship in the previous month to the voter registrar of the
county and the secretary of state.
SECTION 3. Section 16.0332, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 16.0332. CANCELLATION BECAUSE OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS.
(a) After the secretary of state receives a list under Section
62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or disqualified from
jury service because of citizenship status, the secretary of state
shall cancel the voter registration of each registered voter whose
name appears on the list.
(b) After the registrar receives a list under Section
62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or disqualified from
jury service because of citizenship status, the registrar shall
deliver to each registered voter whose name appears on the list [a]
written notice that the person's voter registration has been
canceled [requiring the voter to submit to the registrar proof of
United States citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the
voter's birth certificate, United States passport, or certificate
of naturalization or any other form prescribed by the secretary of
state. The notice shall be delivered by forwardable mail to the
mailing address on the voter's registration application and to any
new address of the voter known to the registrar].
[(b) If a voter fails to submit to the registrar proof of
citizenship on or before the 30th day after the date the notice is
mailed, the registrar shall cancel the voter's registration.
[(c) The registrar shall retain a copy of the notice mailed
to a voter under this section on file with the voter's registration
application. The registrar shall also retain any proof of
citizenship received under this section on file with the
application.]
SECTION 4. Subsection (c), Section 16.036, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(c) The notice must include:
(1) the date of cancellation;
(2) the reason for cancellation; and
(3) a brief explanation of the voter's right to
challenge the cancellation and to appeal the [registrar's] decision
of the registrar or secretary of state, as applicable.
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a person summoned for jury duty on or after the effective date of
this Act. A person summoned for jury duty before the effective date
of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.