83R9134 JSL-F
By: Alvarado H.B. No. 2484
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of Voter Education Month for public
school students in grade 12.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.921 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.921. HIGH SCHOOL VOTER EDUCATION MONTH. (a) To
educate high school seniors about the importance of voting to a
healthy democracy, each school district and open-enrollment
charter school offering grade 12 shall designate one month during
the school year as Voter Education Month.
(b) During Voter Education Month, each high school campus
and open-enrollment charter school shall provide eligible students
an opportunity to register to vote at the campus.
(c) At the request of the principal of a high school or an
officer of an open-enrollment charter school, the voter registrar
designated under Chapter 12, Election Code, for the county in which
the campus is located shall assist in the registration of eligible
students.
(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
offering grade 12, in consultation with the voter registrar
designated under Chapter 12, Election Code, for the county in which
the district or campus is located, may develop a nonpartisan voter
education program to present to high school seniors during Voter
Education Month.
(e) A voter education program developed under Subsection
(d) must provide information regarding:
(1) the importance of voting;
(2) balloting procedures and voting systems used in
this state;
(3) election dates and polling hours and locations;
and
(4) procedures for early voting.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014
school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.