S.B. No. 331
AN ACT
relating to eligibility to serve as an interpreter in an election.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.032, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.032. INTERPRETER PERMITTED. If an election officer
who attempts to communicate with a voter does not understand the
language used by the voter, the voter may communicate through an
interpreter selected by the voter or, if the voter has not selected
an interpreter, any interpreter an election officer may appoint.
SECTION 2. Section 61.033, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.033. ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AS INTERPRETER. To be
eligible to serve as an interpreter, a person:
(1) may be any person other than the voter's employer,
an agent of the voter's employer, or an officer or agent of a labor
union to which the voter belongs; and
(2) if appointed to serve as an interpreter by an
election officer, must be a registered voter of the county in which
the voter needing the interpreter resides or a registered voter of
an adjacent county.
SECTION 3. Section 61.034, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.034. TRANSLATING BALLOT. If a voter cannot
comprehend the language in which the ballot is printed, the voter
may receive assistance in accordance with Subchapter B, Chapter 64
[an interpreter may accompany the voter to the voting station for
the purpose of translating the ballot to the voter].
SECTION 4. Section 61.035, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.035. OATH. (a) Before serving as an interpreter,
the person selected as interpreter must take the following oath
administered by an election officer:
"I swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my ability, I will
correctly interpret and translate each question, answer, or
statement addressed either to the voter by any election officer or
to an election officer by the voter."
(b) A person who will be providing ballot assistance under
Section 61.034 must also take the oath required by Subchapter B,
Chapter 64, and meet all other requirements of that subchapter.
SECTION 5. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 331 passed the Senate on
April 7, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that the
Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 2021, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 331 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 134,
Nays 10, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor