| 1 | 1 | | 84R4580 ATP-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Zedler H.B. No. 1831 |
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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 the authority of the attorney general to investigate |
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| 8 | 8 | | election-related offenses. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 15.028, Election Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 15.028. NOTICE OF UNLAWFUL VOTING TO PROSECUTOR. |
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| 13 | 13 | | [(a)] If the registrar determines that a person who is not a |
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| 14 | 14 | | registered voter voted in an election, the registrar shall execute |
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| 15 | 15 | | and deliver an affidavit stating the relevant facts to: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) the county or district attorney having |
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| 17 | 17 | | jurisdiction in the territory covered by the election; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) [an affidavit stating the relevant facts. |
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| 19 | 19 | | [(b) If the election covers territory in more than one |
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| 20 | 20 | | county, the registrar shall also deliver an affidavit to] the |
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| 21 | 21 | | attorney general. |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 2. Section 273.001(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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| 23 | 23 | | read as follows: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (a) If two or more registered voters of the territory |
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| 25 | 25 | | covered by an election present affidavits alleging criminal conduct |
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| 26 | 26 | | in connection with the election to the county or district attorney |
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| 27 | 27 | | having jurisdiction in that territory or to the attorney general, |
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| 28 | 28 | | the [county or district] attorney receiving the affidavits shall |
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| 29 | 29 | | investigate the allegations. [If the election covers territory in |
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| 30 | 30 | | more than one county, the voters may present the affidavits to the |
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| 31 | 31 | | attorney general, and the attorney general shall investigate the |
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| 32 | 32 | | allegations.] |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 34 | 34 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 35 | 35 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 36 | 36 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 37 | 37 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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