Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3920 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.B. No. 3920
	1	+	By: Dean (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 3920
	2	+	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 17, 2021;
	3	+	May 17, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on State
	4	+	Affairs; May 21, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:
	5	+	Yeas 6, Nays 3; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.)
	6	+	Click here to see the committee vote
2	7
3	8
	9	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	10		AN ACT
5	11		relating to an application to vote early by mail on the grounds of
6	12		disability or confinement for childbirth.
7	13		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	14		SECTION 1. The heading to Section 82.002, Election Code, is
9	15		amended to read as follows:
10	16		Sec. 82.002. DISABILITY OR CONFINEMENT FOR CHILDBIRTH.
11	17		SECTION 2. Section 82.002, Election Code, is amended by
12	18		amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read
13	19		as follows:
14	20		(a) A qualified voter is eligible for early voting by mail
15	21		if the voter:
16	22		(1) has a sickness or physical condition that prevents
17	23		the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day
18	24		without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring
19	25		the voter's health; or
20	26		(2) is expecting to give birth within three weeks
21	27		before or after election day.
22	28		(b) The following do not constitute [Expected or likely
23	29		confinement for childbirth on election day is] sufficient cause to
24	30		entitle a voter to vote under Subsection (a):
25	31		(1) a lack of transportation;
26	32		(2) a sickness that does not prevent the voter from
27	33		appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood
28	34		of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter's health;
29	35		or
30	36		(3) a requirement to appear at the voter's place of
31	37		employment on election day.
32	38		(c) To be eligible for an early voting ballot by mail under
33	39		Subsection (a)(1), an applicant must affirmatively indicate that he
34	40		or she agrees with the statement prescribed by Section 84.002(c).
35	41		SECTION 3. Section 84.002, Election Code, is amended by
36	42		adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
37	43		(c) An application for a ballot to be voted by mail on the
38	44		ground of disability must require the applicant to affirmatively
39	45		indicate that the applicant agrees with the statement, "I have a
40	46		sickness or physical condition that prevents me from appearing at
41	47		the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing
42	48		personal assistance or injuring my health," as prescribed by
43	49		Section 82.002(a).
44	50		SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
45		-	______________________________ ______________________________
46		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
47		-	I certify that H.B. No. 3920 was passed by the House on May
48		-	14, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 99, Nays 44, 2 present, not
49		-	voting.
50		-	______________________________
51		-	Chief Clerk of the House
52		-	I certify that H.B. No. 3920 was passed by the Senate on May
53		-	25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 18, Nays 13.
54		-	______________________________
55		-	Secretary of the Senate
56		-	APPROVED: _____________________
57		-	Date
58		-	_____________________
59		-	Governor
	51	+	* * * * *