Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB147 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R1138 JRJ-D
2	2	By: Garcia S.B. No. 147
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a
8	8	driver's license or identification card by the Department of Public
9	9	Safety.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	ARTICLE 1. VOTER REGISTRAR, APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION, INITIAL
12	12	REGISTRATION, AND RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
13	13	SECTION 1.01. Section 12.001, Election Code, is amended to
14	14	read as follows:
15	15	Sec. 12.001. DESIGNATION OF VOTER REGISTRAR. (a) Except as
16	16	provided by Subsection (b), the [The] county tax assessor-collector
17	17	is the voter registrar for the county unless the position of county
18	18	elections administrator is created or the county clerk is
19	19	designated as the voter registrar.
20	20	(b) The secretary of state is the voter registrar for the
21	21	purpose of the registration of voters and maintenance of the list of
22	22	registered voters. The voter registrar designated under Subsection
23	23	(a) is the voter registrar for all other purposes.
24	24	SECTION 1.02. Section 12.004, Election Code, is amended to
25	25	read as follows:
26	26	Sec. 12.004. OFFICE HOURS. (a) [The registrar shall
27	27	conduct voter registration activities at all times during regular
28	28	office hours.
29	29	[(b) The registrar may keep the office open for voter
30	30	registration activities at times other than regular office hours.
31	31	The registrar shall post notice of the irregular days and hours the
32	32	office will be open. The notice must remain posted continuously at
33	33	each entrance to the registrar's office for the period beginning
34	34	not later than the third day before the day the office is to be open
35	35	during irregular hours and ending after the last time specified in
36	36	the notice for the office to be open.
37	37	[(c)] The registrar's office shall remain open [for voter
38	38	registration activities] during the hours the polls are required to
39	39	be open for voting on the date of any general or primary election in
40	40	which a statewide office appears on the ballot or any other election
41	41	held in the county on a uniform election date.
42	42	(b) [(d)] If early voting by personal appearance is
43	43	required to be conducted for extended hours under Section 85.005(c)
44	44	or for weekend hours under Section 85.006(e), the registrar's
45	45	office shall remain open for providing voter registration
46	46	information during the extended hours or weekend hours that the
47	47	main early voting polling place is open for voting.
48	48	SECTION 1.03. Section 13.001(b), Election Code, is amended
49	49	to read as follows:
50	50	(b) To be eligible to apply for registration, a person must,
51	51	on the date the registration application is submitted to the
52	52	secretary of state [registrar], be at least 17 years and 10 months
53	53	of age and satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) except for
54	54	age.
55	55	SECTION 1.04. The heading to Section 13.002, Election Code,
56	56	is amended to read as follows:
57	57	Sec. 13.002. OPTIONAL APPLICATION [REQUIRED].
58	58	SECTION 1.05. Section 13.002, Election Code, is amended by
59	59	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (j) to read as
60	60	follows:
61	61	(a) A person desiring to register to vote may [must] submit
62	62	an application to the secretary of state [registrar of the county in
63	63	which the person resides]. Except as provided by Subsection (e), an
64	64	application must be submitted by personal delivery, by mail, or by
65	65	telephonic facsimile machine in accordance with Sections 13.143(d)
66	66	and (d-2).
67	67	(j) Nothing in this section shall prevent a person from
68	68	becoming registered to vote as provided by Section 13.009.
69	69	SECTION 1.06. Section 13.0021, Election Code, is amended by
70	70	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
71	71	(c) A federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a federal
72	72	judge or state judge who is automatically registered to vote under
73	73	Section 13.009 and seeks to have a residence address omitted from
74	74	the registration list shall submit an affidavit to the secretary of
75	75	state stating that the individual is a federal judge or state judge
76	76	or the spouse of a federal judge or state judge.
77	77	SECTION 1.07. Section 13.004, Election Code, is amended to
78	78	read as follows:
79	79	Sec. 13.004. RECORDING AND DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN
80	80	INFORMATION [BY REGISTRAR]. (a) The secretary of state
81	81	[registrar] may not transcribe, copy, or otherwise record a
82	82	telephone number furnished on a registration application.
83	83	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] may transcribe,
84	84	copy, or otherwise record a social security number furnished on a
85	85	registration application only in maintaining the accuracy of the
86	86	registration records.
87	87	(c) The following information furnished on a registration
88	88	application is confidential and does not constitute public
89	89	information for purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code:
90	90	(1) a social security number;
91	91	(2) a Texas driver's license number;
92	92	(3) a number of a personal identification card issued
93	93	by the Department of Public Safety;
94	94	(4) an indication that an applicant is interested in
95	95	working as an election judge; or
96	96	(5) the residence address of the applicant, if the
97	97	applicant is a federal judge or state judge, as defined by Section
98	98	13.0021, the spouse of a federal judge or state judge, or an
99	99	individual to whom Section 552.1175, Government Code, applies and
100	100	the applicant:
101	101	(A) included an affidavit with the registration
102	102	application describing the applicant's status under this
103	103	subdivision, including an affidavit under Section 13.0021 if the
104	104	applicant is a federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a
105	105	federal judge or state judge; or
106	106	(B) provided the secretary of state [registrar]
107	107	with an affidavit describing the applicant's status under this
108	108	subdivision, including an affidavit under Section 13.0021 or
109	109	15.0215 if the applicant is a federal judge or state judge or the
110	110	spouse of a federal judge or state judge[; or
111	111	[(C) provided the registrar with a completed form
112	112	approved by the secretary of state for the purpose of notifying the
113	113	registrar of the applicant's status under this subdivision].
114	114	(c-1) The secretary of state and the registrar shall ensure
115	115	that the information listed in Subsection (c) is excluded from
116	116	disclosure.
117	117	(d) The secretary of state, voter registrar, or other county
118	118	official who has access to the information furnished on a
119	119	registration application may not post the following information on
120	120	a website:
121	121	(1) a telephone number;
122	122	(2) a social security number;
123	123	(3) a driver's license number or a number of a personal
124	124	identification card;
125	125	(4) a date of birth; or
126	126	(5) the residence address of a voter who is a federal
127	127	judge or state judge, as defined by Section 13.0021, or the spouse
128	128	of a federal judge or state judge, if the voter included an
129	129	affidavit with the application under Section 13.0021 or the
130	130	secretary of state [registrar] has received an affidavit submitted
131	131	under Section 13.0021(c) or 15.0215.
132	132	SECTION 1.08. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
133	133	amended by adding Sections 13.009 and 13.010 to read as follows:
134	134	Sec. 13.009. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF
135	135	PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) The secretary of state shall automatically
136	136	register any individual who is eligible to vote as provided by
137	137	Section 13.001 and:
138	138	(1) is issued a Texas driver's license or a personal
139	139	identification card by the Department of Public Safety; or
140	140	(2) makes a change to a Texas driver's license or
141	141	personal identification card issued by the Department of Public
142	142	Safety.
143	143	(b) A driver's license or personal identification card
144	144	transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.062(b) or
145	145	20.063(c) that the transaction is not for voter registration
146	146	purposes is not subject to this section.
147	147	Sec. 13.010. PAPER APPLICATION FOR VOTER REGISTRATION. The
148	148	secretary of state shall post on its Internet website voter
149	149	registration application forms that may be printed and submitted to
150	150	the secretary of state in:
151	151	(1) English; and
152	152	(2) any language other than English for which over
153	153	five percent of the total voting age citizens of a political
154	154	subdivision in this state are members of that single minority
155	155	language group.
156	156	SECTION 1.09. Section 13.071, Election Code, is amended to
157	157	read as follows:
158	158	Sec. 13.071. REVIEW OF APPLICATION. (a) The secretary of
159	159	state [registrar] shall review each submitted application for
160	160	registration to determine whether it complies with Section 13.002
161	161	and indicates that the applicant is eligible for registration.
162	162	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall make the
163	163	determination not later than the seventh day after the date the
164	164	application is submitted to the secretary of state [registrar].
165	165	SECTION 1.10. Sections 13.072(a), (b), and (c), Election
166	166	Code, are amended to read as follows:
167	167	(a) The secretary of state [Unless the registrar challenges
168	168	the applicant, the registrar] shall approve the application if:
169	169	(1) the secretary of state [registrar] determines that
170	170	an application complies with Section 13.002 and indicates that the
171	171	applicant is eligible for registration; and
172	172	(2) for an applicant who has not included a statement
173	173	described by Section 13.002(c)(8)(C) or for an applicant who does
174	174	not register under Section 13.009, the [registrar verifies with
175	175	the] secretary of state verifies:
176	176	(A) the applicant's Texas driver's license number
177	177	or number of a personal identification card issued by the
178	178	Department of Public Safety; or
179	179	(B) the last four digits of the applicant's
180	180	social security number.
181	181	(b) After approval of an application by an applicant who was
182	182	registered in another county at the time of application, the
183	183	secretary of state [registrar] shall update the statewide voter
184	184	registration list to reflect [deliver written notice of the
185	185	applicant's change of residence to the other county's registrar and
186	186	include in the notice] the applicant's change in county of [name,
187	187	former] residence [address, and former registration number, if
188	188	known].
189	189	(c) If [Except as provided by Subsection (d), if] the
190	190	secretary of state [registrar] determines that an application does
191	191	not comply with Section 13.002 or does not indicate that the
192	192	applicant is eligible for registration, the secretary of state
193	193	[registrar] shall reject the application.
194	194	SECTION 1.11. Subchapter C, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
195	195	amended by adding Section 13.0725 to read as follows:
196	196	Sec. 13.0725. PROCESS FOR VERIFICATION OF APPLICANT'S TEXAS
197	197	DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUED
198	198	PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. (a) The
199	199	secretary of state shall adopt rules establishing standards used
200	200	for the verification of information on a voter registration
201	201	application submitted under Section 13.072(a)(2)(A). The rules
202	202	shall provide a process by which the secretary of state verifies an
203	203	applicant's Texas driver's license number or Department of Public
204	204	Safety issued personal identification card number if, based on the
205	205	available information, a minor correction in the applicant's last
206	206	name or date of birth would lead a reasonable person to conclude
207	207	that the number submitted is the correct number for that applicant.
208	208	(b) If available, the secretary of state shall review the
209	209	name and date of birth maintained by the Department of Public Safety
210	210	or other agency used in the verification process for a submitted
211	211	application that corresponds to the Texas driver's license number,
212	212	Department of Public Safety issued personal identification card
213	213	number, or social security number submitted by the applicant if:
214	214	(1) the secretary of state cannot verify the accuracy
215	215	of an applicant's Texas driver's license number, Department of
216	216	Public Safety issued personal identification card number, or social
217	217	security number as submitted by the applicant; or
218	218	(2) the secretary of state verifies the accuracy of
219	219	the number provided, but it is not a perfect match with the personal
220	220	information provided by the applicant.
221	221	(c) If the application was not otherwise verified under this
222	222	section and the secretary of state determines that a governmental
223	223	clerical error was made in processing or submitting the
224	224	application, the secretary of state shall correct the registration
225	225	record and submit the corrected record for verification under
226	226	Section 13.072(a)(2).
227	227	SECTION 1.12. Section 13.073, Election Code, is amended to
228	228	read as follows:
229	229	Sec. 13.073. NOTICE OF REJECTION. (a) Except as provided by
230	230	Subsection (b), the secretary of state [registrar] shall deliver
231	231	written notice of the reason for the rejection of an application to
232	232	the applicant not later than the second day after the date of
233	233	rejection. If an application is rejected because it was not
234	234	verified under Section 13.072, the notice shall indicate whether
235	235	the last name, date of birth, Texas driver's license number,
236	236	Department of Public Safety issued personal identification card
237	237	number, or social security number was the reason for the failure to
238	238	verify, if that information is provided to the secretary of state
239	239	under Section 13.0725.
240	240	(b) If the secretary of state [registrar] rejects an
241	241	application in the applicant's presence, at that time the secretary
242	242	of state [registrar] shall orally inform the applicant of the
243	243	reason for the rejection. If the rejection is for incompleteness,
244	244	the secretary of state [registrar] shall return the application to
245	245	the applicant for completion and resubmission.
246	246	(c) If the secretary of state [registrar] rejects an
247	247	application for incompleteness but receives a completed
248	248	application not later than the 10th day after the date the notice is
249	249	delivered under Subsection (a) or the date the incomplete
250	250	application is returned under Subsection (b), as applicable, the
251	251	original date of submission of the incomplete application is
252	252	considered to be the date of submission to the secretary of state
253	253	[registrar] for the purpose of determining the effective date of
254	254	registration.
255	255	SECTION 1.13. Sections 13.074(a) and (b), Election Code,
256	256	are amended to read as follows:
257	257	(a) If after the secretary of state determines
258	258	[determining] that an application complies with Section 13.002 and
259	259	indicates that the applicant is eligible for registration, the
260	260	registrar has reason to believe the applicant is not eligible for
261	261	registration or the application was submitted in an unauthorized
262	262	manner, the registrar shall challenge the applicant.
263	263	(b) The registrar shall indicate on the statewide
264	264	computerized voter registration list [application of a challenged
265	265	applicant] that the applicant's eligibility or the manner of
266	266	submission of the application has been challenged and the date of
267	267	the challenge.
268	268	SECTION 1.14. Section 13.080, Election Code, is amended to
269	269	read as follows:
270	270	Sec. 13.080. RECORDING REJECTION. On rejection of an
271	271	applicant's registration application by a registrar under Section
272	272	13.079, the registrar shall inform the secretary of state and the
273	273	secretary of state shall enter the date of and reason for the
274	274	rejection on the application.
275	275	SECTION 1.15. Sections 13.101(a) and (b), Election Code,
276	276	are amended to read as follows:
277	277	(a) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a file
278	278	containing the approved registration applications of the
279	279	registered voters of the state [county].
280	280	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain the
281	281	file in alphabetical order by voter name on a county by county
282	282	[countywide] basis. However, the secretary of state [registrar]
283	283	may maintain the file in numerical order by registration number if
284	284	the secretary of state [registrar] regularly maintains a list of
285	285	registered voters in alphabetical order by voter name on a county by
286	286	county [countywide] basis.
287	287	SECTION 1.16. Sections 13.102(a), (b), and (c), Election
288	288	Code, are amended to read as follows:
289	289	(a) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a file
290	290	containing the rejected applications of applicants for
291	291	registration.
292	292	(b) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain a
293	293	file, separate from the file maintained under Subsection (a),
294	294	containing the applications of the voters whose registrations have
295	295	been canceled.
296	296	(c) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain each
297	297	file in alphabetical order by applicant or voter name on a county by
298	298	county [countywide] basis.
299	299	SECTION 1.17. Section 13.103, Election Code, is amended to
300	300	read as follows:
301	301	Sec. 13.103. PLACE FOR KEEPING FILES; SECURITY. (a) The
302	302	registration application files maintained under this subchapter
303	303	shall be kept in the secretary of state's [registrar's] office at
304	304	all times in a place and manner ensuring their security.
305	305	(b) Applications may be removed from the secretary of
306	306	state's [registrar's] office temporarily, in a manner ensuring
307	307	their security, for use in preparing registration certificates,
308	308	lists of registered voters, and other registration documents by
309	309	electronic data-processing methods.
310	310	SECTION 1.18. Section 13.104(a), Election Code, is amended
311	311	to read as follows:
312	312	(a) Instead of keeping the original registration
313	313	applications and supporting documentation as required by this
314	314	title, the secretary of state [registrar] may record the
315	315	applications and documentation on an optical disk or other computer
316	316	storage medium [approved by the secretary of state].
317	317	SECTION 1.19. Section 13.142(a), Election Code, is amended
318	318	to read as follows:
319	319	(a) The secretary of state shall notify the registrar of a
320	320	voter's registration as soon as practicable. After notification of
321	321	registration of a voter by the secretary of state under Section
322	322	13.009, or approval of a registration application by the secretary
323	323	of state, the registrar shall:
324	324	(1) prepare a voter registration certificate in
325	325	duplicate and issue the original certificate to the applicant; and
326	326	(2) enter the applicant's county election precinct
327	327	number and registration number on the applicant's registration
328	328	application.
329	329	SECTION 1.20. Sections 13.143(a), (d), (d-2), and (e),
330	330	Election Code, are amended to read as follows:
331	331	(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (e), if an
332	332	applicant's registration application is approved, the registration
333	333	becomes effective on the 30th day after the date the application is
334	334	submitted to the secretary of state [registrar] or on the date the
335	335	applicant becomes 18 years of age, whichever is later.
336	336	(d) For purposes of determining the effective date of a
337	337	registration, an application submitted by:
338	338	(1) mail is considered to be submitted to the
339	339	secretary of state [registrar] on the date it is placed with postage
340	340	prepaid and properly addressed in the United States mail; or
341	341	(2) telephonic facsimile machine is considered to be
342	342	submitted to the secretary of state [registrar] on the date the
343	343	transmission is received by the secretary of state [registrar],
344	344	subject to Subsection (d-2).
345	345	(d-2) For a registration application submitted by
346	346	telephonic facsimile machine to be effective, a copy of the
347	347	registration application must be submitted by mail and be received
348	348	by the secretary of state [registrar] not later than the fourth
349	349	business day after the transmission by telephonic facsimile machine
350	350	is received.
351	351	(e) If the 30th day before the date of an election is a
352	352	Saturday, Sunday, or legal state or national holiday, an
353	353	application is considered to be timely if it is submitted to the
354	354	secretary of state [registrar] on or before the next regular
355	355	business day.
356	356	SECTION 1.21. Sections 13.144(a) and (b), Election Code,
357	357	are amended to read as follows:
358	358	(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the registrar
359	359	receives notice from the secretary of state that an individual has
360	360	registered to vote [the application], the registrar shall deliver
361	361	the original of an initial certificate:
362	362	(1) in person to the applicant or the applicant's agent
363	363	appointed under Section 13.003; or
364	364	(2) by mail to the applicant.
365	365	(b) If delivery is by mail, the registrar shall send the
366	366	certificate to the mailing address provided for the individual in
367	367	the statewide computerized voter [on the applicant's] registration
368	368	list [application].
369	369	SECTION 1.22. Section 14.002(a), Election Code, is amended
370	370	to read as follows:
371	371	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the registrar
372	372	shall deliver a voter's renewal certificate by mail to the mailing
373	373	address provided for the individual in the statewide computerized
374	374	voter [on the voter's] registration list [application].
375	375	SECTION 1.23. Section 15.021(c), Election Code, is amended
376	376	to read as follows:
377	377	(c) The registrar shall retain the notice on file [with the
378	378	voter's registration application]. If the correction is a change
379	379	of the voter's name, the registrar shall file the notice
380	380	[application] under the new name.
381	381	SECTION 1.24. Section 15.0215(b), Election Code, is amended
382	382	to read as follows:
383	383	(b) A federal judge, a state judge, or the spouse of a
384	384	federal judge or state judge who is registered to vote may at any
385	385	time submit to the secretary of state [registrar of the county in
386	386	which the judge resides] an affidavit stating that the voter is a
387	387	federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a federal judge or
388	388	state judge.
389	389	SECTION 1.25. Section 15.053(c), Election Code, is amended
390	390	to read as follows:
391	391	(c) The registrar shall submit [act on] the response to the
392	392	secretary of state for action in accordance with Section 13.072 and
393	393	retain the response on file [with the voter's registration
394	394	application].
395	395	SECTION 1.26. Section 16.005, Election Code, is amended to
396	396	read as follows:
397	397	Sec. 16.005. PRESERVATION OF ABSTRACT. If an abstract
398	398	received under this subchapter affects a registered voter of the
399	399	county, the registrar shall retain a copy of the abstract on file
400	400	[with the affected voter's registration application].
401	401	SECTION 1.27. Section 16.031(a), Election Code, is amended
402	402	to read as follows:
403	403	(a) The registrar shall cancel a voter's registration
404	404	immediately on receipt of:
405	405	(1) notice under Section [13.072(b) or] 15.021 or a
406	406	response under Section 15.053 that the voter's residence is outside
407	407	the county;
408	408	(2) an abstract of the voter's death certificate under
409	409	Section 16.001(a) or an abstract of an application indicating that
410	410	the voter is deceased under Section 16.001(b);
411	411	(3) an abstract of a final judgment of the voter's
412	412	total mental incapacity, partial mental incapacity without the
413	413	right to vote, conviction of a felony, or disqualification under
414	414	Section 16.002, 16.003, or 16.004;
415	415	(4) notice under Section 112.012 that the voter has
416	416	applied for a limited ballot in another county;
417	417	(5) notice from a voter registration official in
418	418	another state that the voter has registered to vote outside this
419	419	state;
420	420	(6) notice from the early voting clerk under Section
421	421	101.053 [101.0041] that a federal postcard application submitted by
422	422	an applicant states a voting residence address located outside the
423	423	registrar's county; or
424	424	(7) notice from the secretary of state that the voter
425	425	has registered to vote in another county, as determined by the
426	426	voter's driver's license number or personal identification card
427	427	number issued by the Department of Public Safety or social security
428	428	number.
429	429	SECTION 1.28. Section 16.033(f), Election Code, is amended
430	430	to read as follows:
431	431	(f) The registrar shall retain a copy of the notice mailed
432	432	to a voter under this section on file [with the voter's registration
433	433	application]. If the voter's reply to the notice is in writing, the
434	434	registrar shall also retain the reply on file [with the
435	435	application]. If the reply is oral, the registrar shall prepare a
436	436	memorandum of the reply, indicating the substance and date of the
437	437	reply, and shall retain the memorandum on file [with the
438	438	application].
439	439	SECTION 1.29. Section 16.0331(c), Election Code, is amended
440	440	to read as follows:
441	441	(c) The registrar shall retain the request on file [with the
442	442	voter's registration application].
443	443	SECTION 1.30. Section 16.034, Election Code, is amended to
444	444	read as follows:
445	445	Sec. 16.034. RECORDING CANCELLATION. On cancellation of a
446	446	voter's registration, the registrar shall notify the secretary of
447	447	state of [enter] the date of and reason for the cancellation and the
448	448	secretary of state shall record the information on the voter's
449	449	registration application and duplicate registration certificate
450	450	and make any other appropriate corrections in the registration
451	451	records.
452	452	SECTION 1.31. Section 16.037(c), Election Code, is amended
453	453	to read as follows:
454	454	(c) On reinstatement of a registration, the registrar shall
455	455	notify the secretary of state of [enter] the date of and reason for
456	456	the reinstatement and the secretary of state shall record the
457	457	information on the voter's registration application and duplicate
458	458	registration certificate, make any appropriate corrections in the
459	459	registration records, and take any other action necessary to give
460	460	effect to the reinstatement.
461	461	SECTION 1.32. Section 31.040(b), Election Code, is amended
462	462	to read as follows:
463	463	(b) The commissioners court or the administrator may
464	464	require any or all of the administrator's deputies[, other than
465	465	unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give a bond similar to that
466	466	required of the administrator in an amount not exceeding the amount
467	467	of the administrator's bond.
468	468	SECTION 1.33. Section 31.161(b), Election Code, is amended
469	469	to read as follows:
470	470	(b) The joint elections commission or the joint elections
471	471	administrator may require any or all of the administrator's
472	472	deputies[, other than unpaid volunteer deputy registrars,] to give
473	473	a bond similar to that required of the administrator in an amount
474	474	not exceeding the amount of the administrator's bond.
475	475	SECTION 1.34. Section 31.170(b), Election Code, is amended
476	476	to read as follows:
477	477	(b) After the effective date of an order abolishing the
478	478	position of joint elections administrator, the county tax
479	479	assessor-collector is the voter registrar of the county, and the
480	480	duties and functions of the officer of a participating entity that
481	481	were performed by the administrator revert to the officer, unless a
482	482	transfer of duties and functions occurs under Section [12.031 or]
483	483	31.071.
484	484	ARTICLE 2. PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING REGISTERED VOTERS
485	485	SECTION 2.01. Section 18.005(c), Election Code, is amended
486	486	to read as follows:
487	487	(c) The original or supplemental list of registered voters
488	488	may not contain the residence address of a voter who is a federal
489	489	judge, a state judge, or the spouse of a federal judge or state
490	490	judge, if the voter included an affidavit with the voter's
491	491	registration application under Section 13.0021 or the secretary of
492	492	state [registrar] received an affidavit submitted under Section
493	493	15.0215 before the list was prepared. In this subsection, "federal
494	494	judge" and "state judge" have the meanings assigned by Section
495	495	13.0021.
496	496	SECTION 2.02. Section 18.006, Election Code, is amended to
497	497	read as follows:
498	498	Sec. 18.006. DELIVERY OF LISTS TO ELECTION AUTHORITIES.
499	499	The registrar shall deliver the lists furnished under this
500	500	subchapter, including the lists furnished under Section 18.007, to
501	501	the appropriate authority as soon as practicable after the request
502	502	but in every case in time for receipt before the beginning of early
503	503	voting by mail for the election in which the lists are to be used.
504	504	If those lists do not contain the names of all voters who will be
505	505	eligible to vote as of the beginning of early voting by personal
506	506	appearance, another set of the appropriate lists shall be delivered
507	507	before the beginning of early voting by personal appearance. If
508	508	those lists do not contain the names of all voters whose
509	509	registrations will be effective on election day, another set of the
510	510	appropriate lists shall be delivered as soon as practicable after
511	511	the secretary of state [registrar] has processed the remaining
512	512	applications.
513	513	SECTION 2.03. Sections 18.043(a) and (c), Election Code,
514	514	are amended to read as follows:
515	515	(a) The [At the times prescribed by the] secretary of
516	516	state[, the registrar] shall produce [deliver to the secretary] a
517	517	statement containing the voter registration information determined
518	518	[by the secretary] to be necessary to comply with reporting
519	519	requirements prescribed under federal law.
520	520	(c) The secretary of state [registrar] shall maintain the
521	521	information required for the statements in accordance with
522	522	procedures prescribed by this section [the secretary of state].
523	523	SECTION 2.04. Section 18.061(c), Election Code, is amended
524	524	to read as follows:
525	525	(c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state,
526	526	the Department of Public Safety and each voter registrar shall
527	527	provide to the secretary of state on an expedited basis the
528	528	information necessary to maintain the registration list
529	529	established under Subsection (a). The procedures shall provide for
530	530	the electronic submission of the information.
531	531	SECTION 2.05. Section 18.066(b), Election Code, is amended
532	532	to read as follows:
533	533	(b) Information furnished under this section may not
534	534	include:
535	535	(1) a voter's social security number; or
536	536	(2) the residence address of a voter who is a federal
537	537	judge or state judge, as defined by Section 13.0021, or the spouse
538	538	of a federal judge or state judge, if the voter included an
539	539	affidavit with the voter's registration application under Section
540	540	13.0021 or the secretary of state [applicable registrar] has
541	541	received an affidavit submitted under Section 15.0215.
542	542	SECTION 2.06. Section 63.0011(e), Election Code, is amended
543	543	to read as follows:
544	544	(e) The voter registrar shall retain each statement of
545	545	residence on file [with the voter's voter registration
546	546	application].
547	547	SECTION 2.07. Section 101.055(c), Election Code, is amended
548	548	to read as follows:
549	549	(c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state,
550	550	the secretary of state [The registrar] shall register the person at
551	551	the address provided under Subsection (b) unless that address no
552	552	longer is recognized as a residential address, in which event the
553	553	secretary of state [registrar] shall assign the person to an
554	554	address [under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state].
555	555	SECTION 2.08. Section 112.012, Election Code, is amended to
556	556	read as follows:
557	557	Sec. 112.012. NOTIFICATION TO SECRETARY OF STATE [VOTER
558	558	REGISTRAR]. Not later than the 30th day after receipt of an
559	559	application for a limited ballot, the early voting clerk shall
560	560	notify the secretary of state [voter registrar for the voter's
561	561	former county of residence] that the voter has applied for a limited
562	562	ballot.
563	563	ARTICLE 3. VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCIES
564	564	SECTION 3.01. Section 20.008, Election Code, is amended to
565	565	read as follows:
566	566	Sec. 20.008. ASSISTANCE BY SECRETARY OF STATE [OR
567	567	REGISTRAR]. If a question arises concerning voter registration
568	568	that an agency employee cannot answer, the employee shall provide
569	569	the person[:
570	570	[(1)] the toll-free telephone number of the Elections
571	571	Division of the Office of the Secretary of State[; and
572	572	[(2) the telephone number of the voter registrar to
573	573	whom registration applications are submitted].
574	574	SECTION 3.02. Sections 20.033, 20.034, and 20.035, Election
575	575	Code, are amended to read as follows:
576	576	Sec. 20.033. EFFECT OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION TO
577	577	EMPLOYEE. The date of submission of a completed registration
578	578	application to the agency employee is considered to be the date of
579	579	submission to the secretary of state [voter registrar] for the
580	580	purpose of determining the effective date of registration only.
581	581	Sec. 20.034. SUBMISSION TO REGISTRAR BY APPLICANT. (a) The
582	582	applicant may keep the registration application form or the
583	583	completed application to submit the application personally to the
584	584	secretary of state [voter registrar].
585	585	(b) The agency employee shall enter on the declination of
586	586	registration form a notation that after being given the opportunity
587	587	to register, the applicant kept the application or application form
588	588	for personal submission of the application to the secretary of
589	589	state [registrar].
590	590	Sec. 20.035. DELIVERY OF APPLICATIONS TO SECRETARY OF STATE
591	591	[REGISTRAR]. (a) The agency shall deliver to the secretary of
592	592	state [voter registrar of the county in which the agency office is
593	593	located] each completed registration application submitted to an
594	594	agency employee.
595	595	(b) An application shall be delivered to the secretary of
596	596	state [registrar] not later than the fifth day after the date the
597	597	application is submitted to the employee.
598	598	SECTION 3.03. Section 20.037(c), Election Code, is amended
599	599	to read as follows:
600	600	(c) An application form delivered by mail must be
601	601	accompanied by a notice informing the applicant that the
602	602	application may be submitted in person or by mail to the secretary
603	603	of state [voter registrar of the county in which the applicant
604	604	resides or in person to a volunteer deputy registrar for delivery to
605	605	the voter registrar of the county in which the applicant resides].
606	606	SECTION 3.04. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
607	607	read as follows:
608	608	Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
609	609	provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety
610	610	except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section
611	611	13.009.
612	612	SECTION 3.05. Section 20.062(b), Election Code, is amended
613	613	to read as follows:
614	614	(b) The department shall prescribe and use a change of
615	615	address form and procedure that combines department and voter
616	616	registration functions. The form must allow a licensee or
617	617	cardholder to indicate that [whether] the change of address is not
618	618	[also to be used] for voter registration purposes.
619	619	SECTION 3.06. Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended to
620	620	read as follows:
621	621	Sec. 20.063. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) The Department
622	622	of Public Safety shall consider an application made in person, by
623	623	mail, or online at the department's Internet website [provide to
624	624	each person who applies in person at the department's offices] for
625	625	an original or renewal of a driver's license, a personal
626	626	identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license or card by
627	627	a person who is eligible to vote as provided by Section 13.001 an
628	628	application for [opportunity to complete a] voter registration.
629	629	The date of application is considered to be the date of submission
630	630	to the secretary of state for the purpose of determining the
631	631	effective date of registration [application form].
632	632	(b) The Department of Public Safety shall consider a change
633	633	of address that relates to [When the department processes] a
634	634	license or card and that is submitted to [for renewal by mail,] the
635	635	department [shall deliver to the applicant by mail a voter
636	636	registration application form.
637	637	[(c) A change of address that relates to a license or card
638	638	and that is submitted to the department] in person, [or] by mail, or
639	639	online at the department's Internet website [serves] as a change in
640	640	[of address for] voter registration [unless the licensee or
641	641	cardholder indicates that the change is not for voter registration
642	642	purposes]. The date of submission of a change of address to a
643	643	department employee is considered to be the date of submission to
644	644	the secretary of state [voter registrar] for the purpose of
645	645	determining the effective date of registration [only].
646	646	(c) The registration of an eligible [(d) If a completed]
647	647	voter as required by Subsections (a) and (b) is automatic unless the
648	648	person indicates that the transaction is not for voter
649	649	registration purposes [application submitted to a department
650	650	employee does not include the applicant's correct driver's license
651	651	number or personal identification card number, a department
652	652	employee shall enter the appropriate information on the
653	653	application. If a completed application does not include the
654	654	applicant's correct residence address or mailing address, a
655	655	department employee shall obtain the appropriate information from
656	656	the applicant and enter the information on the application].
657	657	SECTION 3.07. Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended
658	658	to read as follows:
659	659	(b) Each weekday the department is regularly open for
660	660	business, the department shall electronically transfer to the
661	661	secretary of state the name and information designated by the
662	662	secretary of state for [of each person who completes a] voter
663	663	registration for each individual who is eligible to vote as
664	664	provided by Section 13.001 and applies in person, by mail, or online
665	665	at the department's Internet website for an original or renewal of a
666	666	driver's license, a personal identification card, or a duplicate or
667	667	corrected license or card [application submitted to the
668	668	department]. The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to
669	669	implement this subsection.
670	670	SECTION 3.08. Subchapter C, Chapter 20, Election Code, is
671	671	amended by adding Section 20.067 to read as follows:
672	672	Sec. 20.067. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT. The Department of Public
673	673	Safety and the secretary of state shall develop printed materials
674	674	and a public service announcement to inform the public about
675	675	automatic voter registration.
676	676	SECTION 3.09. Section 20.122(c), Election Code, is amended
677	677	to read as follows:
678	678	(c) The application forms must be accompanied by a notice
679	679	informing the licensees that the applications may be submitted in
680	680	person or by mail to the secretary of state [voter registrar of the
681	681	county in which they reside or in person to a volunteer deputy
682	682	registrar for delivery to the voter registrar of the county in which
683	683	they reside].
684	684	ARTICLE 4. PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION CERTIFICATES
685	685	SECTION 4.01. Section 521.101, Transportation Code, is
686	686	amended by adding Subsection (m) to read as follows:
687	687	(m) The department shall indicate "VOTER" on the face of a
688	688	personal identification certificate issued to a person
689	689	automatically registered to vote under Section 20.063, Election
690	690	Code, and "NONVOTER" on a personal identification certificate
691	691	issued to a person who declines to be registered to vote under
692	692	Section 20.063, Election Code, or is ineligible for voter
693	693	registration.
694	694	SECTION 4.02. Subchapter F, Chapter 521, Transportation
695	695	Code, is amended by adding Section 521.127 to read as follows:
696	696	Sec. 521.127. VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO BE INDICATED
697	697	ON LICENSE. The department shall indicate "VOTER" on the face of
698	698	each driver's license issued to a person automatically registered
699	699	to vote under Section 20.063, Election Code, and "NONVOTER" on each
700	700	driver's license issued to a person who declines to be registered to
701	701	vote under Section 20.063, Election Code, or is ineligible for
702	702	voter registration.
703	703	SECTION 4.03. Section 521.422(a), Transportation Code, is
704	704	amended to read as follows:
705	705	(a) The fee for a personal identification certificate is:
706	706	(1) waived for an individual eligible to register to
707	707	vote under Section 13.001, Election Code;
708	708	(2) $15 for a person under 60 years of age;
709	709	(3) [(2)] $5 for a person 60 years of age or older; and
710	710	(4) [(3)] $20 for a person subject to the registration
711	711	requirements under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
712	712	ARTICLE 5. REPEALER; EFFECTIVE DATE
713	713	SECTION 5.01. The following provisions of the Election Code
714	714	are repealed:
715	715	(1) Section 12.002;
716	716	(2) Section 12.005;
717	717	(3) Section 12.006;
718	718	(4) Subchapter B, Chapter 12;
719	719	(5) Subchapter B, Chapter 13;
720	720	(6) Section 13.072(d);
721	721	(7) Section 13.121(c); and
722	722	(8) Sections 20.065(a) and (c).
723	723	SECTION 5.02. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.