Texas 2021 - 87th 1st C.S.

Texas Senate Bill SB31 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87S10043 BRG-D
2	2	By: Perry S.B. No. 31
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the use of certain information regarding voter
8	8	qualification.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 16.0332, Election Code, is amended by
11	11	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1), (d), and (e)
12	12	to read as follows:
13	13	(a) After the registrar receives notification [a list]
14	14	under Subsection (a-1) of this section, Section 18.068 of this
15	15	code, or Section 62.113, Government Code, of persons excused or
16	16	disqualified from jury service because of citizenship status or
17	17	notification of persons who indicate a lack of citizenship status
18	18	in connection with a motor vehicle or Department of Public Safety
19	19	record, the registrar shall deliver to each registered voter whose
20	20	name appears on the list a written notice requiring the voter to
21	21	submit to the registrar proof of United States citizenship in the
22	22	form of a certified copy of the voter's birth certificate, United
23	23	States passport, or certificate of naturalization or any other form
24	24	prescribed by the secretary of state. The notice shall be delivered
25	25	by forwardable mail to the mailing address on the voter's
26	26	registration application and to any new address of the voter known
27	27	to the registrar.
28	28	(a-1) The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement
29	29	with the Department of Public Safety under which information in the
30	30	existing statewide computerized voter registration list is
31	31	compared against information in the database of the Department of
32	32	Public Safety on a monthly basis to verify the accuracy of
33	33	citizenship status information previously provided on voter
34	34	registration applications.
35	35	(d) The secretary of state shall prescribe rules for the
36	36	administration of this section.
37	37	(e) Not later than December 31 of each year, the secretary
38	38	of state shall provide a report to the legislature of the number of
39	39	voter registrations canceled under this section during the calendar
40	40	year.
41	41	SECTION 2. Section 18.068(a), Election Code, is amended by
42	42	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
43	43	follows:
44	44	(a) The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the
45	45	information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Sections
46	46	[Section] 62.113 and 62.114, Government Code, to the statewide
47	47	computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines
48	48	that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been
49	49	excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a
50	50	citizen or a resident of the county in which the voter is registered
51	51	to vote, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to:
52	52	(1) the voter registrar of the counties considered
53	53	appropriate by the secretary; and
54	54	(2) the attorney general, who shall quarterly review
55	55	the information to investigate whether a person has committed an
56	56	offense under Section 13.007 or other law.
57	57	(a-1) The secretary of state is not required to send notice
58	58	under Subsection (a) for a voter who is subject to an exemption from
59	59	jury service under Section 62.106, Government Code.
60	60	SECTION 3. Section 62.113(b), Government Code, is amended
61	61	to read as follows:
62	62	(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall
63	63	send a copy of the list of persons excused or disqualified because
64	64	of citizenship in the previous month to:
65	65	(1) the voter registrar of the county;
66	66	(2) the secretary of state; and
67	67	(3) the attorney general and the county or district
68	68	attorney[, as applicable,] for an investigation of whether the
69	69	person committed an offense under Section 13.007, Election Code, or
70	70	other law.
71	71	SECTION 4. Sections 62.114(b) and (c), Government Code, are
72	72	amended to read as follows:
73	73	(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall
74	74	send [to the voter registrar of the county] a copy of the list of
75	75	persons excused or disqualified in the previous month because the
76	76	persons do not reside in the county to:
77	77	(1) the voter registrar of the county;
78	78	(2) the secretary of state; and
79	79	(3) the attorney general and the county or district
80	80	attorney for an investigation of whether the person committed an
81	81	offense under Section 13.007, Election Code, or other law.
82	82	(c) A list compiled under this section may not be used for a
83	83	purpose other than a purpose described by Subsection (b) or Section
84	84	15.081 or 18.068, Election Code.
85	85	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
86	86	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
87	87	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
88	88	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
89	89	Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
90	90	legislative session.