86R10150 JRJ-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 1053
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to automatic voter registration on issuance of a driver's
license or identification card by the Department of Public Safety.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.009. AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS. (a) The voter
registrar of each county shall automatically register any county
resident who is 18 years of age, eligible to vote as provided by
Section 13.001, and issued a Texas driver's license or a personal
identification card by the Department of Public Safety.
(b) A driver's license or personal identification card
transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.063(c) that
the transaction is not for voter registration purposes is not
subject to this section.
SECTION 2. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety
except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section
13.009.
SECTION 3. Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read
as follows:
(a) The Department of Public Safety shall provide to each
person who applies in person, by mail, or online at the department's
Internet website [at the department's offices] for an original or
renewal of a driver's license, a personal identification card, or a
duplicate or corrected license or card an opportunity to complete a
voter registration application form.
(c) A change of address that relates to a license or card and
that is submitted to the department in person, [or] by mail, or
online at the department's Internet website serves as a change of
address for voter registration unless the licensee or cardholder
indicates that the change is not for voter registration purposes.
The date of submission of a change of address to a department
employee is considered to be the date of submission to the voter
registrar for the purpose of determining the effective date of
registration [only].
(e) The Department of Public Safety shall consider an
application made in person, by mail, or online at the department's
Internet website for an original or renewal of a driver's license, a
personal identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license
or card by a person who is 18 years of age and eligible to vote as
provided by Section 13.001 an application for voter registration.
The date of application is considered to be the date of submission
to the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective
date of registration. The registration of an eligible voter under
this subsection is automatic unless the person indicates that the
transaction is not for voter registration purposes.
SECTION 4. Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) Each weekday the department is regularly open for
business, the department shall electronically transfer to the
secretary of state the name and information designated by the
secretary of state for [of] each person who completes a voter
registration application submitted to the department and for each
individual who is eligible for registration under Section
20.063(e). The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to
implement this subsection.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.