Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3267 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	84R9501 JRJ-D
2	2	By: Herrero H.B. No. 3267
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a
8	8	driver's license or identification card by the Department of Public
9	9	Safety.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	ARTICLE 1. VOTER REGISTRAR, APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION, INITIAL
12	12	REGISTRATION, AND RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
13	13	SECTION 1.01. Section 12.001, Election Code, is amended to
14	14	read as follows:
15	15	Sec. 12.001. DESIGNATION OF VOTER REGISTRAR. (a) Except as
16	16	provided by Subsection (b), the [The] county tax assessor-collector
17	17	is the voter registrar for the county unless the position of county
18	18	elections administrator is created or the county clerk is
19	19	designated as the voter registrar.
20	20	(b) The secretary of state is the voter registrar for the
21	21	purpose of the registration of voters and maintenance of the list of
22	22	registered voters. The voter registrar designated under Subsection
23	23	(a) is the voter registrar for all other purposes.
24	24	SECTION 1.02. Section 12.004, Election Code, is amended to
25	25	read as follows:
26	26	Sec. 12.004. OFFICE HOURS. (a) [The registrar shall
27	27	conduct voter registration activities at all times during regular
28	28	office hours.
29	29	[(b) The registrar may keep the office open for voter
30	30	registration activities at times other than regular office hours.
31	31	The registrar shall post notice of the irregular days and hours the
32	32	office will be open. The notice must remain posted continuously at
33	33	each entrance to the registrar's office for the period beginning
34	34	not later than the third day before the day the office is to be open
35	35	during irregular hours and ending after the last time specified in
36	36	the notice for the office to be open.
37	37	[(c)] The registrar's office shall remain open [for voter
38	38	registration activities] during the hours the polls are required to
39	39	be open for voting on the date of any general or primary election in
40	40	which a statewide office appears on the ballot or any other election
41	41	held in the county on a uniform election date.
42	42	(b) [(d)] If early voting by personal appearance is
43	43	required to be conducted for extended hours under Section 85.005(c)
44	44	or for weekend hours under Section 85.006(e), the registrar's
45	45	office shall remain open for providing voter registration
46	46	information during the extended hours or weekend hours that the
47	47	main early voting polling place is open for voting.
48	48	SECTION 1.03. Section 13.001(b), Election Code, is amended
49	49	to read as follows:
50	50	(b) To be eligible to apply for registration, a person must,
51	51	on the date the registration application is submitted to the
52	52	secretary of state [registrar], be at least 17 years and 10 months
53	53	of age and satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) except for
54	54	age.
55	55	SECTION 1.04. The heading to Section 13.002, Election Code,
56	56	is amended to read as follows:
57	57	Sec. 13.002. OPTIONAL APPLICATION [REQUIRED].
58	58	SECTION 1.05. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by
59	59	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (j) to read as
60	60	follows:
61	61	(a) A person desiring to register to vote may [must] submit
62	62	an application to the secretary of state or to the registrar of the
63	63	county in which the person resides, who must forward the
64	64	application to the secretary of state not later than the fifth day
65	65	after the date the application is submitted. Except as provided by
66	66	Subsection (e), an application must be submitted by personal
67	67	delivery, by mail, or by telephonic facsimile machine in accordance
68	68	with Sections 13.143(d) and (d-2).
69	69	(j) Nothing in this section shall prevent a person from
70	70	becoming registered to vote as provided by Section 13.009.
71	71	SECTION 1.06. Section 13.0021, Election Code, is amended by
72	72	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
73	73	(c) A federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a federal
74	74	judge or state judge who is automatically registered to vote under
75	75	Section 13.009 and seeks to have a residence address omitted from
76	76	the registration list shall submit an affidavit to the secretary of
77	77	state stating that the individual is a federal judge or state judge
78	78	or the spouse of a federal judge or state judge.
79	79	SECTION 1.07. Section 13.004, Election Code, is amended to
80	80	read as follows:
81	81	Sec. 13.004. RECORDING AND DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN
82	82	INFORMATION [BY REGISTRAR]. (a) The secretary of state
83	83	[registrar] may not transcribe, copy, or otherwise record a
84	84	telephone number furnished on a registration application.
85	85	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] may transcribe,
86	86	copy, or otherwise record a social security number furnished on a
87	87	registration application only in maintaining the accuracy of the
88	88	registration records.
89	89	(c) The following information furnished on a registration
90	90	application is confidential and does not constitute public
91	91	information for purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code:
92	92	(1) a social security number;
93	93	(2) a Texas driver's license number;
94	94	(3) a number of a personal identification card issued
95	95	by the Department of Public Safety;
96	96	(4) an indication that an applicant is interested in
97	97	working as an election judge; or
98	98	(5) the residence address of the applicant, if the
99	99	applicant is a federal judge or state judge, as defined by Section
100	100	13.0021, the spouse of a federal judge or state judge, or an
101	101	individual to whom Section 552.1175, Government Code, applies and
102	102	the applicant:
103	103	(A) included an affidavit with the registration
104	104	application describing the applicant's status under this
105	105	subdivision, including an affidavit under Section 13.0021 if the
106	106	applicant is a federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a
107	107	federal judge or state judge;
108	108	(B) provided the secretary of state [registrar]
109	109	with an affidavit describing the applicant's status under this
110	110	subdivision, including an affidavit under Section 15.0215 if the
111	111	applicant is a federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a
112	112	federal judge or state judge; or
113	113	(C) provided the secretary of state [registrar]
114	114	with a completed form approved by the secretary of state for the
115	115	purpose of notifying the secretary of state [registrar] of the
116	116	applicant's status under this subdivision.
117	117	(c-1) The secretary of state and the registrar shall ensure
118	118	that the information listed in Subsection (c) is excluded from
119	119	disclosure.
120	120	(d) The secretary of state, voter registrar, or other county
121	121	official who has access to the information furnished on a
122	122	registration application may not post the following information on
123	123	a website:
124	124	(1) a telephone number;
125	125	(2) a social security number;
126	126	(3) a driver's license number or a number of a personal
127	127	identification card;
128	128	(4) a date of birth; or
129	129	(5) the residence address of a voter who is a federal
130	130	judge or state judge, as defined by Section 13.0021, or the spouse
131	131	of a federal judge or state judge, if the voter included an
132	132	affidavit with the application under Section 13.0021 or the
133	133	secretary of state [registrar] has received an affidavit submitted
134	134	under Section 13.0021(c) or 15.0215.
135	135	SECTION 1.08. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
136	136	amended by adding Sections 13.009 and 13.010 to read as follows:
137	137	Sec. 13.009. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF
138	138	PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) The secretary of state shall automatically
139	139	register any individual who is eligible to vote as provided by
140	140	Section 13.001 and:
141	141	(1) is issued a Texas driver's license or a personal
142	142	identification card by the Department of Public Safety; or
143	143	(2) makes a change to a Texas driver's license or
144	144	personal identification card issued by the Department of Public
145	145	Safety.
146	146	(b) A driver's license or personal identification card
147	147	transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.062(b) or
148	148	20.063(c) that the transaction is not for voter registration
149	149	purposes is not subject to this section.
150	150	Sec. 13.010. PAPER APPLICATION FOR VOTER REGISTRATION. The
151	151	secretary of state shall post on its Internet website voter
152	152	registration application forms that may be printed and submitted to
153	153	the secretary of state or to the registrar of the county in which
154	154	the person resides in:
155	155	(1) English; and
156	156	(2) any language other than English for which over
157	157	five percent of the total voting age citizens of a political
158	158	subdivision in this state are members of that single minority
159	159	language group.
160	160	SECTION 1.09. Section 13.071, Election Code, is amended to
161	161	read as follows:
162	162	Sec. 13.071. REVIEW OF APPLICATION. (a) The secretary of
163	163	state [registrar] shall review each submitted application for
164	164	registration to determine whether it complies with Section 13.002
165	165	and indicates that the applicant is eligible for registration.
166	166	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall make the
167	167	determination not later than the seventh day after the date the
168	168	application is submitted to the secretary of state [registrar].
169	169	SECTION 1.10. Sections 13.072(a), (b), and (c), Election
170	170	Code, are amended to read as follows:
171	171	(a) The secretary of state [Unless the registrar challenges
172	172	the applicant, the registrar] shall approve the application if:
173	173	(1) the secretary of state [registrar] determines that
174	174	an application complies with Section 13.002 and indicates that the
175	175	applicant is eligible for registration; and
176	176	(2) for an applicant who has not included a statement
177	177	described by Section 13.002(c)(8)(C) or for an applicant who does
178	178	not register under Section 13.009, the [registrar verifies with
179	179	the] secretary of state verifies:
180	180	(A) the applicant's Texas driver's license number
181	181	or number of a personal identification card issued by the
182	182	Department of Public Safety; or
183	183	(B) the last four digits of the applicant's
184	184	social security number.
185	185	(b) After approval of an application by an applicant who was
186	186	registered in another county at the time of application, the
187	187	secretary of state [registrar] shall update the statewide voter
188	188	registration list to reflect [deliver written notice of the
189	189	applicant's change of residence to the other county's registrar and
190	190	include in the notice] the applicant's change in county of [name,
191	191	former] residence [address, and former registration number, if
192	192	known].
193	193	(c) If [Except as provided by Subsection (d), if] the
194	194	secretary of state [registrar] determines that an application does
195	195	not comply with Section 13.002 or does not indicate that the
196	196	applicant is eligible for registration, the secretary of state
197	197	[registrar] shall reject the application.
198	198	SECTION 1.11. Subchapter C, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
199	199	amended by adding Section 13.0725 to read as follows:
200	200	Sec. 13.0725. PROCESS FOR VERIFICATION OF APPLICANT'S TEXAS
201	201	DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUED
202	202	PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. (a) The
203	203	secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing standards used
204	204	for the verification of information on a voter registration
205	205	application submitted under Section 13.072(a)(2)(A). The rules
206	206	shall provide a process by which the secretary of state verifies an
207	207	applicant's Texas driver's license number or Department of Public
208	208	Safety issued personal identification card number if, based on the
209	209	available information, a minor correction in the applicant's last
210	210	name or date of birth would lead a reasonable person to conclude
211	211	that the number submitted is the correct number for that applicant.
212	212	(b) If available, the secretary of state shall review the
213	213	name and date of birth maintained by the Department of Public Safety
214	214	or other agency used in the verification process for a submitted
215	215	application that corresponds to the Texas driver's license number,
216	216	Department of Public Safety issued personal identification card
217	217	number, or social security number submitted by the applicant if:
218	218	(1) the secretary of state cannot verify the accuracy
219	219	of an applicant's Texas driver's license number, Department of
220	220	Public Safety issued personal identification card number, or social
221	221	security number as submitted by the applicant; or
222	222	(2) the secretary of state verifies the accuracy of
223	223	the number provided, but it is not a perfect match with the personal
224	224	information provided by the applicant.
225	225	(c) If the application was not otherwise verified under this
226	226	section and the secretary of state determines that a governmental
227	227	clerical error was made in processing or submitting the
228	228	application, the secretary of state shall correct the registration
229	229	record and submit the corrected record for verification under
230	230	Section 13.072(a)(2).
231	231	SECTION 1.12. Section 13.073, Election Code, is amended to
232	232	read as follows:
233	233	Sec. 13.073. NOTICE OF REJECTION. (a) Except as provided
234	234	by Subsection (b), the secretary of state [registrar] shall deliver
235	235	written notice of the reason for the rejection of an application to
236	236	the applicant not later than the second day after the date of
237	237	rejection. If an application is rejected because it was not
238	238	verified under Section 13.072, the notice shall indicate whether
239	239	the last name, date of birth, Texas driver's license number,
240	240	Department of Public Safety issued personal identification card
241	241	number, or social security number was the reason for the failure to
242	242	verify, if that information is provided to the secretary of state
243	243	under Section 13.0725.
244	244	(b) If the secretary of state [registrar] rejects an
245	245	application in the applicant's presence, at that time the secretary
246	246	of state [registrar] shall orally inform the applicant of the
247	247	reason for the rejection. If the rejection is for incompleteness,
248	248	the secretary of state [registrar] shall return the application to
249	249	the applicant for completion and resubmission.
250	250	(c) If the secretary of state [registrar] rejects an
251	251	application for incompleteness but receives a completed
252	252	application not later than the 10th day after the date the notice is
253	253	delivered under Subsection (a) or the date the incomplete
254	254	application is returned under Subsection (b), as applicable, the
255	255	original date of submission of the incomplete application is
256	256	considered to be the date of submission to the secretary of state
257	257	[registrar] for the purpose of determining the effective date of
258	258	registration.
259	259	SECTION 1.13. Sections 13.074(a) and (b), Election Code,
260	260	are amended to read as follows:
261	261	(a) If after the secretary of state determines
262	262	[determining] that an application complies with Section 13.002 and
263	263	indicates that the applicant is eligible for registration, the
264	264	registrar has reason to believe the applicant is not eligible for
265	265	registration or the application was submitted in an unauthorized
266	266	manner, the registrar shall challenge the applicant.
267	267	(b) The registrar shall indicate on the statewide
268	268	computerized voter registration list [application of a challenged
269	269	applicant] that the applicant's eligibility or the manner of
270	270	submission of the application has been challenged and the date of
271	271	the challenge.
272	272	SECTION 1.14. Section 13.080, Election Code, is amended to
273	273	read as follows:
274	274	Sec. 13.080. RECORDING REJECTION. On rejection of an
275	275	applicant's registration application by a registrar under Section
276	276	13.079, the registrar shall inform the secretary of state and the
277	277	secretary of state shall enter the date of and reason for the
278	278	rejection on the application.
279	279	SECTION 1.15. Sections 13.101(a) and (b), Election Code,
280	280	are amended to read as follows:
281	281	(a) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a file
282	282	containing the approved registration applications of the
283	283	registered voters of the state [county].
284	284	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain the
285	285	file in alphabetical order by voter name on a county by county
286	286	[countywide] basis. However, the secretary of state [registrar] may
287	287	maintain the file in numerical order by registration number if the
288	288	secretary of state [registrar] regularly maintains a list of
289	289	registered voters in alphabetical order by voter name on a county by
290	290	county [countywide] basis.
291	291	SECTION 1.16. Sections 13.102(a), (b), and (c), Election
292	292	Code, are amended to read as follows:
293	293	(a) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a file
294	294	containing the rejected applications of applicants for
295	295	registration.
296	296	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a
297	297	file, separate from the file maintained under Subsection (a),
298	298	containing the applications of the voters whose registrations have
299	299	been canceled.
300	300	(c) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain each
301	301	file in alphabetical order by applicant or voter name on a county by
302	302	county [countywide] basis.
303	303	SECTION 1.17. Section 13.103, Election Code, is amended to
304	304	read as follows:
305	305	Sec. 13.103. PLACE FOR KEEPING FILES; SECURITY. (a) The
306	306	registration application files maintained under this subchapter
307	307	shall be kept in the secretary of state's [registrar's] office at
308	308	all times in a place and manner ensuring their security.
309	309	(b) Applications may be removed from the secretary of
310	310	state's [registrar's] office temporarily, in a manner ensuring
311	311	their security, for use in preparing registration certificates,
312	312	lists of registered voters, and other registration documents by
313	313	electronic data-processing methods.
314	314	SECTION 1.18. Section 13.104(a), Election Code, is amended
315	315	to read as follows:
316	316	(a) Instead of keeping the original registration
317	317	applications and supporting documentation as required by this
318	318	title, the secretary of state [registrar] may record the
319	319	applications and documentation on an optical disk or other computer
320	320	storage medium [approved by the secretary of state].
321	321	SECTION 1.19. Section 13.142(a), Election Code, is amended
322	322	to read as follows:
323	323	(a) The secretary of state shall notify the registrar of a
324	324	voter's registration as soon as practicable. After notification of
325	325	registration of a voter by the secretary of state under Section
326	326	13.009, or approval of a registration application by the secretary
327	327	of state, the registrar shall:
328	328	(1) prepare a voter registration certificate in
329	329	duplicate and issue the original certificate to the applicant; and
330	330	(2) enter the applicant's county election precinct
331	331	number and registration number on the applicant's registration
332	332	application.
333	333	SECTION 1.20. Sections 13.143(a), (d), (d-2), and (e),
334	334	Election Code, are amended to read as follows:
335	335	(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (e), if an
336	336	applicant's registration application is approved, the registration
337	337	becomes effective on the 30th day after the date the application is
338	338	submitted to the secretary of state [registrar] or on the date the
339	339	applicant becomes 18 years of age, whichever is later.
340	340	(d) For purposes of determining the effective date of a
341	341	registration, an application submitted by:
342	342	(1) mail is considered to be submitted to the
343	343	secretary of state [registrar] on the date it is placed with postage
344	344	prepaid and properly addressed in the United States mail; or
345	345	(2) telephonic facsimile machine is considered to be
346	346	submitted to the secretary of state [registrar] on the date the
347	347	transmission is received by the secretary of state [registrar],
348	348	subject to Subsection (d-2).
349	349	(d-2) For a registration application submitted by
350	350	telephonic facsimile machine to be effective, a copy of the
351	351	registration application must be submitted by mail and be received
352	352	by the secretary of state [registrar] not later than the fourth
353	353	business day after the transmission by telephonic facsimile machine
354	354	is received.
355	355	(e) If the 30th day before the date of an election is a
356	356	Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, an
357	357	application is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the
358	358	secretary of state [registrar] on or before the next regular
359	359	business day.
360	360	SECTION 1.21. Sections 13.144(a) and (b), Election Code,
361	361	are amended to read as follows:
362	362	(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the registrar
363	363	receives notice from the secretary of state that an individual has
364	364	registered to vote [the application], the registrar shall deliver
365	365	the original of an initial certificate:
366	366	(1) in person to the applicant or the applicant's agent
367	367	appointed under Section 13.003; or
368	368	(2) by mail to the applicant.
369	369	(b) If delivery is by mail, the registrar shall send the
370	370	certificate to the mailing address provided for the individual in
371	371	the statewide computerized voter [on the applicant's] registration
372	372	list [application].
373	373	SECTION 1.22. Section 14.002(a), Election Code, is amended
374	374	to read as follows:
375	375	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the registrar
376	376	shall deliver a voter's renewal certificate by mail to the mailing
377	377	address provided for the individual in the statewide computerized
378	378	voter [on the voter's] registration list [application].
379	379	SECTION 1.23. Section 15.021(c), Election Code, is amended
380	380	to read as follows:
381	381	(c) The registrar shall retain the notice on file [with the
382	382	voter's registration application]. If the correction is a change
383	383	of the voter's name, the registrar shall file the application under
384	384	the new name.
385	385	SECTION 1.24. Section 15.0215(b), Election Code, is amended
386	386	to read as follows:
387	387	(b) A federal judge, a state judge, or the spouse of a
388	388	federal judge or state judge who is registered to vote may at any
389	389	time submit to the secretary of state [registrar of the county in
390	390	which the judge resides] an affidavit stating that the voter is a
391	391	federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a federal judge or
392	392	state judge.
393	393	SECTION 1.25. Section 15.053(c), Election Code, is amended
394	394	to read as follows:
395	395	(c) The registrar shall submit [act on] the response to the
396	396	secretary of state for action in accordance with Section 13.072 and
397	397	retain the response on file [with the voter's registration
398	398	application].
399	399	SECTION 1.26. Section 16.005, Election Code, is amended to
400	400	read as follows:
401	401	Sec. 16.005. PRESERVATION OF ABSTRACT. If an abstract
402	402	received under this subchapter affects a registered voter of the
403	403	county, the registrar shall retain a copy of the abstract on file
404	404	[with the affected voter's registration application].
405	405	SECTION 1.27. Section 16.031(a), Election Code, is amended
406	406	to read as follows:
407	407	(a) The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration
408	408	immediately on receipt of:
409	409	(1) notice under Section [13.072(b) or] 15.021 or a
410	410	response under Section 15.053 that the voter's residence is outside
411	411	the county;
412	412	(2) an abstract of the voter's death certificate under
413	413	Section 16.001(a) or an abstract of an application indicating that
414	414	the voter is deceased under Section 16.001(b);
415	415	(3) an abstract of a final judgment of the voter's
416	416	total mental incapacity, partial mental incapacity without the
417	417	right to vote, conviction of a felony, or disqualification under
418	418	Section 16.002, 16.003, or 16.004;
419	419	(4) notice under Section 112.012 that the voter has
420	420	applied for a limited ballot in another county;
421	421	(5) notice from a voter registration official in
422	422	another state that the voter has registered to vote outside this
423	423	state;
424	424	(6) notice from the early voting clerk under Section
425	425	101.053 [101.0041] that a federal postcard application submitted by
426	426	an applicant states a voting residence address located outside the
427	427	registrar's county; or
428	428	(7) notice from the secretary of state that the voter
429	429	has registered to vote in another county, as determined by the
430	430	voter's driver's license number or personal identification card
431	431	number issued by the Department of Public Safety or social security
432	432	number.
433	433	SECTION 1.28. Section 16.033(f), Election Code, is amended
434	434	to read as follows:
435	435	(f) The registrar shall retain a copy of the notice mailed
436	436	to a voter under this section on file [with the voter's registration
437	437	application]. If the voter's reply to the notice is in writing, the
438	438	registrar shall also retain the reply on file [with the
439	439	application]. If the reply is oral, the registrar shall prepare a
440	440	memorandum of the reply, indicating the substance and date of the
441	441	reply, and shall retain the memorandum on file [with the
442	442	application].
443	443	SECTION 1.29. Section 16.0331(c), Election Code, is amended
444	444	to read as follows:
445	445	(c) The registrar shall retain the request on file [with the
446	446	voter's registration application].
447	447	SECTION 1.30. Section 16.034, Election Code, is amended to
448	448	read as follows:
449	449	Sec. 16.034. RECORDING CANCELLATION. On cancellation of a
450	450	voter's registration, the registrar shall notify the secretary of
451	451	state of [enter] the date of and reason for the cancellation and the
452	452	secretary of state shall record the information on the voter's
453	453	registration application and duplicate registration certificate
454	454	and make any other appropriate corrections in the registration
455	455	records.
456	456	SECTION 1.31. Section 16.037(c), Election Code, is amended
457	457	to read as follows:
458	458	(c) On reinstatement of a registration, the registrar shall
459	459	notify the secretary of state of [enter] the date of and reason for
460	460	the reinstatement and the secretary of state shall record the
461	461	information on the voter's registration application and duplicate
462	462	registration certificate, make any appropriate corrections in the
463	463	registration records, and take any other action necessary to give
464	464	effect to the reinstatement.
465	465	SECTION 1.32. Section 31.040(b), Election Code, is amended
466	466	to read as follows:
467	467	(b) The commissioners court or the administrator may
468	468	require any or all of the administrator's deputies[, other than
469	469	unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give a bond similar to that
470	470	required of the administrator in an amount not exceeding the amount
471	471	of the administrator's bond.
472	472	SECTION 1.33. Section 31.161(b), Election Code, is amended
473	473	to read as follows:
474	474	(b) The joint elections commission or the joint elections
475	475	administrator may require any or all of the administrator's
476	476	deputies[, other than unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give
477	477	a bond similar to that required of the administrator in an amount
478	478	not exceeding the amount of the administrator's bond.
479	479	ARTICLE 2. PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING REGISTERED VOTERS
480	480	SECTION 2.01. Section 18.005(c), Election Code, is amended
481	481	to read as follows:
482	482	(c) The original or supplemental list of registered voters
483	483	may not contain the residence address of a voter who is a federal
484	484	judge, a state judge, or the spouse of a federal judge or state
485	485	judge, if the voter included an affidavit with the voter's
486	486	registration application under Section 13.0021 or the secretary of
487	487	state [registrar] received an affidavit submitted under Section
488	488	15.0215 before the list was prepared. In this subsection, "federal
489	489	judge" and "state judge" have the meanings assigned by Section
490	490	13.0021.
491	491	SECTION 2.02. Section 18.006, Election Code, is amended to
492	492	read as follows:
493	493	Sec. 18.006. DELIVERY OF LISTS TO ELECTION AUTHORITIES.
494	494	The registrar shall deliver the lists furnished under this
495	495	subchapter, including the lists furnished under Section 18.007, to
496	496	the appropriate authority as soon as practicable after the request
497	497	but in every case in time for receipt before the beginning of early
498	498	voting by mail for the election in which the lists are to be used.
499	499	If those lists do not contain the names of all voters who will be
500	500	eligible to vote as of the beginning of early voting by personal
501	501	appearance, another set of the appropriate lists shall be delivered
502	502	before the beginning of early voting by personal appearance. If
503	503	those lists do not contain the names of all voters whose
504	504	registrations will be effective on election day, another set of the
505	505	appropriate lists shall be delivered as soon as practicable after
506	506	the secretary of state [registrar] has processed the remaining
507	507	applications.
508	508	SECTION 2.03. Sections 18.043(a) and (c), Election Code,
509	509	are amended to read as follows:
510	510	(a) The [At the times prescribed by the] secretary of
511	511	state[, the registrar] shall produce [deliver to the secretary] a
512	512	statement containing the voter registration information determined
513	513	[by the secretary] to be necessary to comply with reporting
514	514	requirements prescribed under federal law.
515	515	(c) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain the
516	516	information required for the statements in accordance with
517	517	procedures prescribed by this section [the secretary of state].
518	518	SECTION 2.04. Section 18.061(c), Election Code, is amended
519	519	to read as follows:
520	520	(c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state,
521	521	the Department of Public Safety and each voter registrar shall
522	522	provide to the secretary of state on an expedited basis the
523	523	information necessary to maintain the registration list
524	524	established under Subsection (a). The procedures shall provide for
525	525	the electronic submission of the information.
526	526	SECTION 2.05. Section 18.066(b), Election Code, is amended
527	527	to read as follows:
528	528	(b) Information furnished under this section may not
529	529	include:
530	530	(1) a voter's social security number; or
531	531	(2) the residence address of a voter who is a federal
532	532	judge or state judge, as defined by Section 13.0021, or the spouse
533	533	of a federal judge or state judge, if the voter included an
534	534	affidavit with the voter's registration application under Section
535	535	13.0021 or the secretary of state [applicable registrar] has
536	536	received an affidavit submitted under Section 15.0215.
537	537	SECTION 2.06. Section 63.0011(e), Election Code, is amended
538	538	to read as follows:
539	539	(e) The voter registrar shall retain each statement of
540	540	residence on file [with the voter's voter registration
541	541	application].
542	542	SECTION 2.07. Section 101.055(c), Election Code, is amended
543	543	to read as follows:
544	544	(c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state,
545	545	the secretary of state [The registrar] shall register the person at
546	546	the address provided under Subsection (b) unless that address no
547	547	longer is recognized as a residential address, in which event the
548	548	secretary of state [registrar] shall assign the person to an
549	549	address [under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state].
550	550	SECTION 2.08. Section 112.012, Election Code, is amended to
551	551	read as follows:
552	552	Sec. 112.012. NOTIFICATION TO SECRETARY OF STATE [VOTER
553	553	REGISTRAR]. Not later than the 30th day after receipt of an
554	554	application for a limited ballot, the early voting clerk shall
555	555	notify the secretary of state [voter registrar for the voter's
556	556	former county of residence] that the voter has applied for a limited
557	557	ballot.
558	558	ARTICLE 3. VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCIES
559	559	SECTION 3.01. Section 20.008, Election Code, is amended to
560	560	read as follows:
561	561	Sec. 20.008. ASSISTANCE BY SECRETARY OF STATE [OR
562	562	REGISTRAR]. If a question arises concerning voter registration
563	563	that an agency employee cannot answer, the employee shall provide
564	564	the person[:
565	565	[(1)] the toll-free telephone number of the Elections
566	566	Division of the Office of the Secretary of State[; and
567	567	[(2) the telephone number of the voter registrar to
568	568	whom registration applications are submitted].
569	569	SECTION 3.02. Sections 20.033, 20.034, and 20.035, Election
570	570	Code, are amended to read as follows:
571	571	Sec. 20.033. EFFECT OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION TO
572	572	EMPLOYEE. The date of submission of a completed registration
573	573	application to the agency employee is considered to be the date of
574	574	submission to the secretary of state [voter registrar] for the
575	575	purpose of determining the effective date of registration only.
576	576	Sec. 20.034. SUBMISSION TO REGISTRAR BY APPLICANT. (a) The
577	577	applicant may keep the registration application form or the
578	578	completed application to submit the application personally to the
579	579	secretary of state or to the voter registrar of the county in which
580	580	the applicant resides.
581	581	(b) The agency employee shall enter on the declination of
582	582	registration form a notation that after being given the opportunity
583	583	to register, the applicant kept the application or application form
584	584	for personal submission of the application to the secretary of
585	585	state [registrar].
586	586	Sec. 20.035. DELIVERY OF APPLICATIONS TO SECRETARY OF STATE
587	587	[REGISTRAR]. (a) The agency shall deliver to the secretary of
588	588	state [voter registrar of the county in which the agency office is
589	589	located] each completed registration application submitted to an
590	590	agency employee.
591	591	(b) An application shall be delivered to the secretary of
592	592	state [registrar] not later than the fifth day after the date the
593	593	application is submitted to the employee.
594	594	SECTION 3.03. Section 20.037(c), Election Code, is amended
595	595	to read as follows:
596	596	(c) An application form delivered by mail must be
597	597	accompanied by a notice informing the applicant that the
598	598	application may be submitted in person or by mail to the secretary
599	599	of state or to the voter registrar of the county in which the
600	600	applicant resides [or in person to a volunteer deputy registrar for
601	601	delivery to the voter registrar of the county in which the applicant
602	602	resides].
603	603	SECTION 3.04. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
604	604	read as follows:
605	605	Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
606	606	provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety
607	607	except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section
608	608	13.009.
609	609	SECTION 3.05. Section 20.062(b), Election Code, is amended
610	610	to read as follows:
611	611	(b) The department shall prescribe and use a change of
612	612	address form and procedure that combines department and voter
613	613	registration functions. The form must allow a licensee or
614	614	cardholder to indicate that [whether] the change of address is not
615	615	[also to be used] for voter registration purposes.
616	616	SECTION 3.06. Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended to
617	617	read as follows:
618	618	Sec. 20.063. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) The Department
619	619	of Public Safety shall consider an application made in person, by
620	620	mail, or online at the department's Internet website [provide to
621	621	each person who applies in person at the department's offices] for
622	622	an original or renewal of a driver's license, a personal
623	623	identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license or card by
624	624	a person who is eligible to vote as provided by Section 13.001 an
625	625	application for [opportunity to complete a] voter registration.
626	626	The date of application is considered to be the date of submission
627	627	to the secretary of state for the purpose of determining the
628	628	effective date of registration [application form].
629	629	(b) The Department of Public Safety shall consider a change
630	630	of address that relates to [When the department processes] a
631	631	license or card and that is submitted to [for renewal by mail,] the
632	632	department [shall deliver to the applicant by mail a voter
633	633	registration application form.
634	634	[(c) A change of address that relates to a license or card
635	635	and that is submitted to the department] in person, [or] by mail, or
636	636	online at the department's Internet website [serves] as a change in
637	637	[of address for] voter registration [unless the licensee or
638	638	cardholder indicates that the change is not for voter registration
639	639	purposes]. The date of submission of a change of address to a
640	640	department employee is considered to be the date of submission to
641	641	the secretary of state [voter registrar] for the purpose of
642	642	determining the effective date of registration [only].
643	643	(c) The registration of an eligible [(d) If a completed]
644	644	voter as required by Subsections (a) and (b) is automatic unless the
645	645	person indicates that the transaction is not for voter
646	646	registration purposes [application submitted to a department
647	647	employee does not include the applicant's correct driver's license
648	648	number or personal identification card number, a department
649	649	employee shall enter the appropriate information on the
650	650	application. If a completed application does not include the
651	651	applicant's correct residence address or mailing address, a
652	652	department employee shall obtain the appropriate information from
653	653	the applicant and enter the information on the application].
654	654	SECTION 3.07. Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended
655	655	to read as follows:
656	656	(b) Each weekday the department is regularly open for
657	657	business, the department shall electronically transfer to the
658	658	secretary of state the name and information designated by the
659	659	secretary of state for [of each person who completes a] voter
660	660	registration for each individual who is eligible to vote as
661	661	provided by Section 13.001 and applies in person, by mail, or online
662	662	at the department's Internet website for an original or renewal of a
663	663	driver's license, a personal identification card, or a duplicate or
664	664	corrected license or card [application submitted to the
665	665	department]. The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to
666	666	implement this subsection.
667	667	SECTION 3.08. Subchapter C, Chapter 20, Election Code, is
668	668	amended by adding Sections 20.067 and 20.068 to read as follows:
669	669	Sec. 20.067. AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION BEFORE TIME FOR RENEWAL
670	670	OR CHANGE OF ADDRESS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b),
671	671	not later than March 15 of each odd-numbered year, the Department of
672	672	Public Safety shall submit a voter registration application to the
673	673	secretary of state on behalf of a current holder of a driver's
674	674	license or personal identification card who is eligible to vote as
675	675	provided by Section 13.001 but who did not register to vote at the
676	676	time the person submitted an application form for a license or card
677	677	and who submitted an application form for a license or card on or
678	678	after January 1, 2013.
679	679	(b) Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
680	680	department must notify each person described by Subsection (a) that
681	681	the department will submit the person's voter registration
682	682	application to the secretary of state. The notice must include a
683	683	declination of registration form prepared so that it may be mailed
684	684	free of United States postage and indicate that the form must be
685	685	received by the department on or before March 1 of the year in which
686	686	the notice is delivered or the department will submit the person's
687	687	application for voter registration to the secretary of state.
688	688	Sec. 20.068. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. The Department of Public
689	689	Safety and the secretary of state shall develop printed materials
690	690	and a public service announcement to inform the public about
691	691	automatic voter registration.
692	692	SECTION 3.09. Section 20.122(c), Election Code, is amended
693	693	to read as follows:
694	694	(c) The application forms must be accompanied by a notice
695	695	informing the licensees that the applications may be submitted in
696	696	person or by mail to the secretary of state or to the voter
697	697	registrar of the county in which they reside [or in person to a
698	698	volunteer deputy registrar for delivery to the voter registrar of
699	699	the county in which they reside].
700	700	ARTICLE 4. DRIVER'S LICENSES AND PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION
701	701	CERTIFICATES
702	702	SECTION 4.01. Section 521.101(f), Transportation Code, is
703	703	amended to read as follows:
704	704	(f) A personal identification certificate:
705	705	(1) for an applicant who is a citizen, national, or
706	706	legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee
707	707	lawfully admitted into the United States, [:
708	708	[(A)] expires on a date specified by the
709	709	department [if the applicant is younger than 60 years of age; or
710	710	[(B) does not expire if the applicant is 60 years
711	711	of age or older]; or
712	712	(2) for an applicant not described by Subdivision (1),
713	713	expires on:
714	714	(A) the earlier of:
715	715	(i) a date specified by the department; or
716	716	(ii) the expiration date of the applicant's
717	717	authorized stay in the United States; or
718	718	(B) the first anniversary of the date of
719	719	issuance, if there is no definite expiration date for the
720	720	applicant's authorized stay in the United States.
721	721	SECTION 4.02. Section 521.422(a), Transportation Code, is
722	722	amended to read as follows:
723	723	(a) The fee for a personal identification certificate is:
724	724	(1) waived for an individual eligible to register to
725	725	vote under Section 13.001, Election Code;
726	726	(2) $15 for a person under 60 years of age;
727	727	(3) [(2)] $5 for a person 60 years of age or older; and
728	728	(4) [(3)] $20 for a person subject to the registration
729	729	requirements under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
730	730	ARTICLE 5. REPEALER; EFFECTIVE DATE
731	731	SECTION 5.01. The following provisions of the Election Code
732	732	are repealed:
733	733	(1) Section 12.002;
734	734	(2) Section 12.005;
735	735	(3) Section 12.006;
736	736	(4) Subchapter B, Chapter 13;
737	737	(5) Section 13.072(d);
738	738	(6) Section 13.121(c);
739	739	(7) Section 20.064; and
740	740	(8) Sections 20.065(a) and (c).
741	741	SECTION 5.02. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.