85R1924 JRJ-D
By: Murphy H.B. No. 384
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to documentation of proof of identification for voting.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 15.001(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Each voter registration certificate issued must
contain:
(1) the voter's name in the form indicated by the
voter, subject to applicable requirements prescribed by Section
13.002 and by rule of the secretary of state;
(2) the voter's residence address or, if the residence
has no address, the address at which the voter receives mail and a
concise description of the location of the voter's residence;
(3) the month, day, and year of the voter's birth;
(4) the number of the county election precinct in
which the voter resides;
(5) the voter's effective date of registration if an
initial certificate;
(6) the voter's registration number;
(7) an indication of the period for which the
certificate is issued;
(8) a statement explaining the circumstances under
which the voter will receive a new certificate;
(9) a space for stamping the voter's political party
affiliation;
(10) a statement that voting with the certificate by a
person other than the person in whose name the certificate is issued
is a felony;
(11) a space for the voter's signature;
(12) a statement that the voter must sign the
certificate personally, if able to sign, immediately on receipt;
(13) a space for the voter to correct the information
on the certificate followed by a signature line;
(14) the statement: "If any information on this
certificate changes or is incorrect, correct the information in the
space provided, sign below, and return this certificate to the
voter registrar.";
(15) the registrar's mailing address and telephone
number; [and]
(16) the jurisdictional or distinguishing number for
the following territorial units in which the voter resides, as
determined by the voter registrar:
(A) congressional district;
(B) state senatorial district;
(C) state representative district;
(D) commissioners precinct;
(E) justice precinct;
(F) city election precinct; and
(G) school district election precinct; and
(17) the photograph of the voter to whom the
certificate is issued if a photograph has been obtained under
Section 31.013.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 31.013 to read as follows:
Sec. 31.013. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION ACCESS. The secretary of
state shall establish methods to obtain a photograph of each
registered voter for use on the voter's voter registration
certificate. For purposes of this section, the secretary of state
shall enter into agreements with the Department of Public Safety
and may enter into agreements with other state agencies and
governmental entities for assistance with assigning photographs to
the appropriate voter's voter registration certificate.
SECTION 3. Section 63.0101, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 63.0101. DOCUMENTATION OF PROOF OF
IDENTIFICATION. The following documentation is an acceptable form
of photo identification under this chapter:
(1) a driver's license, election identification
certificate, or personal identification card issued to the person
by the Department of Public Safety that has not expired or that
expired no earlier than 60 days before the date of presentation;
(2) a United States military identification card that
contains the person's photograph that has not expired or that
expired no earlier than 60 days before the date of presentation;
(3) a United States citizenship certificate issued to
the person that contains the person's photograph;
(4) a United States passport issued to the person that
has not expired or that expired no earlier than 60 days before the
date of presentation; [or]
(5) a license to carry a handgun issued to the person
by the Department of Public Safety that has not expired or that
expired no earlier than 60 days before the date of presentation; or
(6) a voter's voter registration certificate
containing the voter's photograph.
SECTION 4. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act, the secretary of state shall establish, subject to
Subsection (b) of this section, the photo identification access
program required by Section 31.013, Election Code, as added by this
Act.
(b) The photo identification access program required by
Section 31.013, Election Code, as added by this Act, must provide
for voter registration certificates to contain photographs for use
beginning with the general election for state and county officers
held in 2018.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.