85R1760 SRS-F
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 266
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a voter education program for high school seniors.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 31.013 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.013. VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL
SENIORS. (a) The secretary of state, in consultation with the
commissioner of education, shall develop a nonpartisan voter
education program designed to be presented to high school seniors.
(b) The voter education program developed under Subsection
(a) must:
(1) provide information concerning:
(A) the importance of voting;
(B) the manner in which a person may register to
vote in this state;
(C) the manner in which a person may vote using
the voting systems most commonly used in this state;
(D) election dates, as provided under Chapter 41;
(E) the hours polls are open;
(F) early voting; and
(G) how to determine the correct polling place;
and
(2) provide an opportunity, during the period in which
the program is being presented, for students to complete voter
registration application forms.
(c) Once each year, at the request of an administrator of a
public or private high school, the county clerk for the county in
which the school is located, or the clerk's designee, may present
the program to high school seniors at the school. The program must
be presented at school during regular school hours.
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, 2017.