Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB477 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	S.B. No. 477
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to accommodating voters with a disability.
6	6	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
7	7	SECTION 1. Section 63.0015, Election Code, is amended by
8	8	amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (f) to
9	9	read as follows:
10	10	(b) An election officer shall [may] accept a person with a
11	11	mobility problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to
12	12	ambulate who is offering to vote before accepting others offering
13	13	to vote at the polling place who arrived before the person.
14	14	(c) Notice of the priority given to persons with a mobility
15	15	problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to ambulate
16	16	shall be posted:
17	17	(1) at [one or more locations in] each entrance to a
18	18	polling place where it can be read by persons waiting to vote;
19	19	(2) on the Internet website of the secretary of state;
20	20	and
21	21	(3) on each Internet website relating to elections
22	22	maintained by a county.
23	23	(d) The notice required by Subsection (c) must read:
24	24	"Pursuant to Section 63.0015, Election Code, an election officer
25	25	shall [may] give voting order priority to individuals with a
26	26	mobility problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to
27	27	move around. A person assisting an individual with a mobility
28	28	problem may also, at the individual's request, be given voting
29	29	order priority. Disabilities and conditions that may qualify you
30	30	for voting order priority include paralysis, lung disease, the use
31	31	of portable oxygen, cardiac deficiency, severe limitation in the
32	32	ability to walk due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic
33	33	condition, wheelchair confinement, arthritis, foot disorder, the
34	34	inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, or use of a
35	35	brace, cane, crutch, or other assistive device."
36	36	(f) All procedures and accommodations available for voters
37	37	with disabilities, including voting under Section 64.009, shall be
38	38	posted in an accessible manner on the county clerk's Internet
39	39	website.
40	40	SECTION 2. Section 64.009, Election Code, is amended by
41	41	adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows:
42	42	(a-1) At each polling place an area for parking not smaller
43	43	than the size of one parking space shall be reserved for voting
44	44	under this section. The area may not be designated specifically for
45	45	persons with disabilities. The area must be clearly marked with a
46	46	sign:
47	47	(1) indicating that the space is reserved for use by a
48	48	voter who is unable to enter the polling place; and
49	49	(2) displaying, in large font that is clearly readable
50	50	from a vehicle, a telephone number that a voter may call or text to
51	51	request assistance from an election officer at the polling place.
52	52	(a-2) As an alternative to displaying a telephone number
53	53	under Subsection (a-1)(2), a parking space may comply with the
54	54	requirements of this section by providing the voter with a button or
55	55	intercom that the voter may use to request assistance from an
56	56	election officer.
57	57	SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is
58	58	amended by adding Section 84.0121 to read as follows:
59	59	Sec. 84.0121. CLERK TO POST APPLICATION FORM ONLINE. (a)
60	60	The early voting clerk shall post the official application form for
61	61	an early voting ballot on the clerk's Internet website, if the clerk
62	62	maintains an Internet website, in a format that allows a person to
63	63	easily complete the application directly on the website before
64	64	printing.
65	65	(b) The early voting clerk may use the application form
66	66	provided by the secretary of state under Section 84.013 or the early
67	67	voting clerk's own application form.
68	68	SECTION 4. Section 84.013, Election Code, is amended to
69	69	read as follows:
70	70	Sec. 84.013. APPLICATION FORMS FURNISHED BY SECRETARY OF
71	71	STATE. (a) The secretary of state shall maintain a supply of the
72	72	official application forms for ballots to be voted by mail and shall
73	73	furnish the forms in reasonable quantities without charge to
74	74	individuals or organizations requesting them for distribution to
75	75	voters.
76	76	(b) The secretary of state shall provide a printable
77	77	application for a ballot by mail in a format that complies with
78	78	Section 84.0121(a) to the early voting clerk for use under that
79	79	section.
80	80	SECTION 5. Section 104.004(e), Election Code, is amended to
81	81	read as follows:
82	82	(e) If the voter is physically unable to enter the early
83	83	voting polling place without personal assistance or a likelihood of
84	84	injuring the voter's health, the clerk shall deliver the balloting
85	85	materials to the voter at the polling place entrance or curb
86	86	following the procedures prescribed by Section 64.009.
87	87	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
88	88	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
89	89	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
90	90	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
91	91	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
92	92	______________________________ ______________________________
93	93	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
94	94	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 477 passed the Senate on
95	95	April 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that
96	96	the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 25, 2023, by the
97	97	following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
98	98	______________________________
99	99	Secretary of the Senate
100	100	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 477 passed the House, with
101	101	amendments, on May 23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 109,
102	102	Nays 25, four present not voting.
103	103	______________________________
104	104	Chief Clerk of the House
105	105	Approved:
106	106	______________________________
107	107	Date
108	108	______________________________
109	109	Governor