BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 891 By: Klick Elections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties note that Texas does not have a system in place to prevent a person from being registered to vote in Texas in addition to another state or jurisdiction. These parties contend that other states have implemented such a system and found it to be successful in identifying such duplicate registrations. These parties reason that having an interstate collaboration in place in which the Texas secretary of state can work with other states and jurisdictions to help maintain registration lists would help prevent duplication of voter registrations across state lines and jurisdictional boundaries. H.B. 891 seeks to establish such an interstate voter registration cross-check system. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 891 amends the Election Code to require the secretary of state, for purposes of maintaining the statewide voter registration list and preventing duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction, to cooperate with other states and jurisdictions to develop systems to compare voters, voter history, and voter registration lists to identify voters whose addresses have changed. The bill requires such a system to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 891
By: Klick
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 891
By: Klick
Elections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties note that Texas does not have a system in place to prevent a person from being registered to vote in Texas in addition to another state or jurisdiction. These parties contend that other states have implemented such a system and found it to be successful in identifying such duplicate registrations. These parties reason that having an interstate collaboration in place in which the Texas secretary of state can work with other states and jurisdictions to help maintain registration lists would help prevent duplication of voter registrations across state lines and jurisdictional boundaries. H.B. 891 seeks to establish such an interstate voter registration cross-check system.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 891 amends the Election Code to require the secretary of state, for purposes of maintaining the statewide voter registration list and preventing duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction, to cooperate with other states and jurisdictions to develop systems to compare voters, voter history, and voter registration lists to identify voters whose addresses have changed. The bill requires such a system to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties note that Texas does not have a system in place to prevent a person from being registered to vote in Texas in addition to another state or jurisdiction. These parties contend that other states have implemented such a system and found it to be successful in identifying such duplicate registrations. These parties reason that having an interstate collaboration in place in which the Texas secretary of state can work with other states and jurisdictions to help maintain registration lists would help prevent duplication of voter registrations across state lines and jurisdictional boundaries. H.B. 891 seeks to establish such an interstate voter registration cross-check system.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 891 amends the Election Code to require the secretary of state, for purposes of maintaining the statewide voter registration list and preventing duplication of registration in more than one state or jurisdiction, to cooperate with other states and jurisdictions to develop systems to compare voters, voter history, and voter registration lists to identify voters whose addresses have changed. The bill requires such a system to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.