85R1858 GRM-D
By: Murphy H.B. No. 389
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the residence address of a person for purposes of a
response to a confirmation notice sent by the voter registrar.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 15.052(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The official confirmation notice response form must:
(1) provide spaces for the voter to include all of the
information that a person must include in an application to
register to vote under Section 13.002; [and]
(2) describe the requirements of Section 15.054,
provide a space for the voter to indicate if the voter is exempt
from those requirements, and provide a space to indicate the reason
for an exemption, if any; and
(3) be postage prepaid and preaddressed for delivery
to the registrar.
SECTION 2. Section 15.053(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date a
confirmation notice is mailed, the voter shall submit to the
registrar a written, signed response to the notice that confirms
the voter's current residence. The response must contain:
(1) all of the information that a person must include
in an application to register to vote under Section 13.002; and
(2) evidence that the voter's residence address is
established in compliance with Section 15.054 or an indication that
the voter is exempt from those requirements.
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 15, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 15.054 to read as follows:
Sec. 15.054. RESIDENCE FOR PURPOSES OF CONFIRMATION NOTICE
RESPONSE. (a) For purposes of Section 15.053, a person's residence
is established at the first residence address, beginning with
Subdivision (1) and continuing through Subdivision (6), in the
following list that is applicable to the person:
(1) the address stated on a driver's license issued to
the person by the Department of Public Safety that has not expired
or, if the person has notified the department of a change of address
under Section 521.054, Transportation Code, the new address
contained in the notification;
(2) the address stated on a personal identification
card issued to the person by the Department of Public Safety that
has not expired or, if the person has notified the department of a
change of address under Section 521.054, Transportation Code, the
new address contained in the notification;
(3) the address stated on a license to carry a
concealed handgun issued to the person by the Department of Public
Safety that has not expired or, if the person has notified the
department of a change of address under Section 411.181, Government
Code, the new address contained in the notification;
(4) an address corresponding to a residence at which
the person receives mail;
(5) the address the person claims as a homestead in
this state; or
(6) the registration address of a vehicle the person
owns.
(b) A person whose residence in this state has no address
may establish residence under this section by executing an
affidavit stating that the person's residence in this state has no
address, providing a concise description of the location of the
person's residence, and delivering the affidavit to the registrar
with the person's response to the confirmation notice.
(c) The address described by Subsection (a)(4) may not be a
commercial post office box or similar location that does not
correspond to a residence.
(d) This section does not apply to:
(1) a person who is a member of the armed forces of the
United States or the spouse or a dependent of a member;
(2) a person enrolled as a full-time student at an
institution of higher education;
(3) a person whose address is confidential under
Subchapter C, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(4) a federal judge, state judge, or spouse of a
federal or state judge whose driver's license includes the street
address of a courthouse under Section 521.121, Transportation Code;
or
(5) a peace officer whose driver's license omits the
officer's actual residence address under Section 521.1211,
Transportation Code.
(e) Subsection (a)(1) does not apply to a person who holds a
commercial driver's license under Subchapter C, Chapter 522,
Transportation Code.
(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.