By: Garcia, RodrÃguez S.B. No. 142
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the appointment and training of volunteer deputy
registrars.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.048 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.048. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTMENT OF
VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR; PROVISION OF TRAINING MATERIALS ON
SECRETARY OF STATE WEBSITE. (a) A county may adopt a method of
appointment for volunteer deputy registrars under this section that
provides for the training and examination of potential volunteer
deputy registrars.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the secretary of state
shall:
(1) provide on the secretary of state's website the
training materials prescribed by the secretary of state under
Section 13.047 for volunteer deputy registrars; and
(2) prescribe and make available on the secretary of
state's website an examination based on those materials.
(c) A county that has adopted the method under this section:
(1) shall administer the required examination to a
potential volunteer deputy registrar at any time during the county
voter registrar's regular business hours; and
(2) is not required to hold in-person training
sessions for potential volunteer deputy registrars.
(d) At the time a person satisfactorily completes the
examination in compliance with standards adopted by the secretary
of state, the registrar shall appoint the person as a volunteer
deputy registrar and advise the person:
(1) of county-specific procedures for processing
voter registration applications, if applicable; and
(2) that the only requirements for voter registration
are those prescribed by state law or by the secretary of state.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.