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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to high school deputy voter registrars. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 13.046, Election Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (d) and (h) and adding Subsection (e-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) At least twice each school year, a high school deputy |
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registrar shall distribute an officially prescribed registration |
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application form to each student who is or will be 18 years of age or |
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older during that year, subject to rules prescribed by the |
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secretary of state. At least one such distribution must be made not |
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later than the 31st day before the uniform election date in |
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November. |
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(e-1) At least once each school year, the high school deputy |
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registrar shall provide instruction to the students at the |
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registrar's school, emphasizing: |
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(1) the importance of voting; |
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(2) the process of voter registration; |
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(3) the nature of voting systems; |
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(4) relevant election dates; |
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(5) the early voting process; and |
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(6) the regular locations and hours of local polling |
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places. |
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(h) The secretary of state shall: |
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(1) consult with the Texas Education Agency regarding |
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the number of registration application forms to provide to each |
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high school deputy registrar for distribution and provide the forms |
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at the beginning of each academic year; |
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(2) develop and implement a system for monitoring |
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which high schools complete the requirements under Subsection (d); |
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(3) issue a report at the end of each academic year |
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describing the degree to which high schools completed the |
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requirements under Subsection (d); |
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(4) proactively support high school deputy registrars |
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in completion of the requirements under Subsection (d), including |
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public acknowledgement of the high school deputy registrars who |
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consistently succeed in efforts to register students to vote; |
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(5) create a standardized training course for high |
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school deputy registrars to be taken over the Internet to instruct |
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the registrars in regard to best practices and their duties and |
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rights, and any other training the secretary sees fit; and |
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(6) prescribe any additional procedures necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |