By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 1114
(Swanson)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to verification of the citizenship status of certain
registered voters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 16.0332, Election Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (d), and (e)
to read as follows:
(a) After the registrar receives notification [a list]
under Subsection (a-1) of this section, Section 18.068 of this
code, or Section 62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or
disqualified from jury service because of citizenship status or
notification of persons who have indicated a lack of citizenship
status in connection with a motor vehicle or Department of Public
Safety record, the registrar shall deliver to each registered voter
whose name appears on the list a written notice requiring the voter
to submit to the registrar proof of United States citizenship in the
form of a certified copy of the voter's birth certificate, United
States passport, or certificate of naturalization or any other form
prescribed by the secretary of state. The notice shall be delivered
by forwardable mail to the mailing address on the voter's
registration application and to any new address of the voter known
to the registrar.
(a-1) The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement
with the Department of Public Safety under which information in the
statewide computerized voter registration list is compared against
information in the database of the Department of Public Safety on a
monthly basis to verify the accuracy of citizenship status
information provided on voter registration applications. The
information compared must include, at a minimum, a voter's:
(1) full legal name;
(2) former name, if applicable;
(3) date of birth;
(4) residence address;
(5) driver's license or state identification card
number;
(6) social security number;
(7) documentation of lawful presence in this state;
and
(8) citizenship status.
(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe rules for the
administration of this section.
(e) Not later than December 31 of each year, the secretary
of state shall provide a report to the legislature of the number of
voter registrations canceled under this section during the calendar
year.
SECTION 2. 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, 2021.