| 1 | 1 | | 86R12350 JRJ-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Swanson H.B. No. 4540 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to verification of the citizenship status of certain |
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| 8 | 8 | | registered voters. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 16.0332(a), Election Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (a) After the registrar receives notification [a list] |
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| 13 | 13 | | under Section 18.068 of this code or Section 62.113, Government |
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| 14 | 14 | | Code, of persons excused or disqualified from jury service because |
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| 15 | 15 | | of citizenship status or who have indicated a lack of citizenship |
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| 16 | 16 | | status in connection with a motor vehicle record, the registrar |
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| 17 | 17 | | shall deliver to each registered voter whose name appears on the |
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| 18 | 18 | | list a written notice requiring the voter to submit to the registrar |
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| 19 | 19 | | proof of United States citizenship in the form of a certified copy |
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| 20 | 20 | | of the voter's birth certificate, United States passport, or |
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| 21 | 21 | | certificate of naturalization or any other form prescribed by the |
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| 22 | 22 | | secretary of state. The notice shall be delivered by forwardable |
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| 23 | 23 | | mail to the mailing address on the voter's registration application |
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| 24 | 24 | | and to any new address of the voter known to the registrar. |
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| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 2. Sections 18.068(a) and (b), Election Code, are |
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| 26 | 26 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (a) The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the |
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| 28 | 28 | | information received under Section 16.001 of this code, [and] |
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| 29 | 29 | | Section 62.113, Government Code, and Section 730.005(9), |
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| 30 | 30 | | Transportation Code, to the statewide computerized voter |
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| 31 | 31 | | registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the |
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| 32 | 32 | | registration list is deceased, [or] has been excused or |
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| 33 | 33 | | disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen, |
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| 34 | 34 | | or has indicated the voter is not a citizen in connection with a |
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| 35 | 35 | | motor vehicle record, the secretary shall send notice of the |
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| 36 | 36 | | determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered |
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| 37 | 37 | | appropriate by the secretary. |
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| 38 | 38 | | (b) The secretary of state shall by rule determine what |
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| 39 | 39 | | information combinations identified as common to a voter and to an |
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| 40 | 40 | | individual for whom the secretary of state has received information |
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| 41 | 41 | | under this section [who is deceased] constitute a weak match or a |
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| 42 | 42 | | strong match in order to: |
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| 43 | 43 | | (1) produce the least possible impact on Texas voters; |
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| 44 | 44 | | and |
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| 45 | 45 | | (2) fulfill its responsibility to manage the voter |
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| 46 | 46 | | rolls. |
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| 47 | 47 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 48 | 48 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 49 | 49 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 50 | 50 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 51 | 51 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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