87S10111 ADM-D
By: Bucy H.B. No. 64
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to notifications given to a person convicted of a felony
concerning the person's eligibility to vote.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 42.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Section 6 to read as follows:
Sec. 6. The court after pronouncing the sentence of a
defendant convicted of a felony shall inform the defendant, in
writing using clear language, of how the felony conviction will
impact the defendant's right to vote in this state.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 15.029 to read as follows:
Sec. 15.029. NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY BY
SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) This section applies to a person who is
ineligible to vote in this state under Section 13.001(a)(4) because
the person was finally convicted of a felony.
(b) The secretary of state shall coordinate with the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Public Safety,
and any other relevant agency to determine when a person to whom
this section applies has regained eligibility to vote in accordance
with Section 13.001(a)(4)(A) or (B).
(c) At the time a person to whom this section applies
regains eligibility to vote, the secretary of state shall use best
efforts to provide the person with:
(1) a notice informing the person in plain language
that the person may be eligible to register to vote, including
instructions for registration; and
(2) a voter registration application.
(d) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary's
Internet website a generic version of the notice described by
Subsection (c)(1).
(e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.