Texas 2021 - 87th 2nd C.S.

Texas House Bill HB217 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Bucy H.B. No. 217
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to the secretary of state posting on the secretary of
7	7	state's Internet website databases containing certain information
8	8	about elections.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 4.003, Election Code, is amended by
11	11	amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as
12	12	follows:
13	13	(e) The authority responsible for giving notice of the
14	14	election shall deliver:
15	15	(1) to the secretary of state a copy of the notice of a
16	16	consolidated precinct required by Subsection (b) not later than the
17	17	date of the election; and
18	18	(2) in January of each year information for the
19	19	secretary of state's database of election information under Section
20	20	31.017 in an electronic format as follows:
21	21	(A) if the authority is a county or political
22	22	party, as required by the secretary of state; or
23	23	(B) if the authority is a political subdivision
24	24	other than a county, to the county in which the authority is
25	25	located.
26	26	(e-1) A county receiving information under Subsection
27	27	(e)(2)(B) shall forward the information to the secretary of state.
28	28	SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is
29	29	amended by adding Sections 31.017 and 31.018 to read as follows:
30	30	Sec. 31.017. INTERNET DATABASE OF ELECTION INFORMATION.
31	31	(a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary of state's
32	32	public Internet website a database containing information provided
33	33	under Sections 4.003(e) and (e-1). The database must include the
34	34	following information:
35	35	(1) the name of the authority;
36	36	(2) each office to be filled at the election;
37	37	(3) whether the office is elected at large or by
38	38	district; and
39	39	(4) the dates of the preceding and next election for
40	40	the office.
41	41	(b) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
42	42	implement this section.
43	43	Sec. 31.018. INTERNET DATABASE FOR INCUMBENTS AND
44	44	CANDIDATES. (a) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary
45	45	of state's Internet website a database containing information about
46	46	each holder of and candidate for any partisan elected office in this
47	47	state.
48	48	(b) The database must include the following information
49	49	about a holder of a partisan elected office, the office of mayor, or
50	50	a position on the governing body of a city:
51	51	(1) name;
52	52	(2) office title, including any district, place, or
53	53	position and a notation that the person is an incumbent;
54	54	(3) if the office is elected at large or by district;
55	55	(4) date of the previous and next election for the
56	56	office;
57	57	(5) public mailing address;
58	58	(6) public telephone number, if available; and
59	59	(7) public e-mail address, if available.
60	60	(c) The database must include the following information
61	61	about a candidate for a partisan elected office, the office of
62	62	mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city:
63	63	(1) name;
64	64	(2) office sought, including any district, place, or
65	65	position;
66	66	(3) if the office is elected at large or by district;
67	67	(4) date of the election;
68	68	(5) public mailing address;
69	69	(6) public telephone number, if available;
70	70	(7) public e-mail address, if available; and
71	71	(8) if the candidate has filed as a write-in
72	72	candidate.
73	73	(d) The county with whom a declaration of candidacy is
74	74	filed, a state or county chair of a political party, or the
75	75	presiding officer of a political party's convention shall provide
76	76	information about a candidate or officeholder to the secretary of
77	77	state. A political subdivision shall provide information about a
78	78	candidate or officeholder to the county in which the political
79	79	subdivision is located and the county shall forward that
80	80	information to the secretary of state.
81	81	(e) The secretary of state shall make the name, office, and
82	82	party affiliation of the holder of a partisan elected office, the
83	83	office of mayor, or a position on the governing body of a city
84	84	available on the secretary of state's Internet website for as long
85	85	as the person holds that office.
86	86	(f) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to
87	87	implement this section.
88	88	SECTION 3. Section 141.032, Election Code, is amended by
89	89	adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
90	90	(h) A county or political party with whom an application is
91	91	filed shall provide the secretary of state with the candidate's
92	92	information required for the secretary of state's Internet website
93	93	under Section 31.018. A political subdivision with whom an
94	94	application is filed shall provide the candidate's information to
95	95	the county in which the political subdivision is located and the
96	96	county shall forward the candidate's information to the secretary
97	97	of state.
98	98	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
99	99	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
100	100	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
101	101	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
102	102	Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
103	103	legislative session.