Bill Text: TX HB2050 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to the use of recording devices and mobile telephones by poll watchers.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-03 - Corrected committee report sent to Calendars [HB2050 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB2050-Comm_Sub.html

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82R22021 JRH-F
By: Pena, Aliseda, Torres, H.B. No. 2050
Gonzales of Williamson, Garza
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2050:
By: Branch C.S.H.B. No. 2050

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of recording devices and mobile telephones by
poll watchers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 33.006(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A certificate of appointment must:
(1) be in writing and signed by the appointing
authority or, for an appointment for a write-in candidate under
Section 33.004, by each of the voters making the appointment;
(2) indicate the capacity in which the appointing
authority is acting;
(3) state the name, residence address, and voter
registration number of the appointee and be signed by the
appointee;
(4) identify the election and the precinct polling
place or other location at which the appointee is to serve; and
(5) in an election on a measure, identify the measure
if more than one is to be voted on and state which side of the
measure the appointee represents[; and
[(6) contain an affidavit executed by the appointee
stating that the appointee will not have possession of any
mechanical or electronic means of recording images or sound while
serving as a watcher].
SECTION 2. Section 61.014(d), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) This section does not apply to:
(1) an election officer in conducting the officer's
official duties;
(2) the use of election equipment necessary for the
conduct of the election; [or]
(3) a person who is employed at the location in which a
polling place is located while the person is acting in the course of
the person's employment; or
(4) a poll watcher who, in a manner that does not
disrupt proceedings at or near the voting station and for the
purpose of reporting an irregularity or violation of law relating
to the election, is contacting the authority holding the election,
the secretary of state, the attorney general, or a law enforcement
officer.
SECTION 3. Section 33.051(c), Election Code, is repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.