85R1252 ADM-D
By: Garcia S.B. No. 144
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of a mobile phone by a person occupying a voting
station.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.014, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read
as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a [A]
person may not use a wireless communication device within 100 feet
of a voting station.
(b) A person may not use any mechanical or electronic means
to record [of recording] images or sound within 100 feet of a voting
station.
(e) A person who is occupying a voting station may use the
person's mobile phone to access information that was downloaded or
created on the phone before the person entered the polling place.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 62.0111, Election Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 62.0111. NOTICE OF PROHIBITION OF RECORDING [CERTAIN
DEVICES].
SECTION 3. Section 62.0111(a), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) At the discretion of the presiding judge, notice of the
prohibition of image and sound recording [the use of certain
devices] under Section 61.014 may be posted at one or more locations
in the polling place where it can be read by persons waiting to
vote.
SECTION 4. 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.