Bill Text: TX HB49 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a driver's license or identification card by the Department of Public Safety.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-23 - Referred to Constitutional Rights & Remedies [HB49 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB49-Introduced.html

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By: Reynolds H.B. No. 49

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a
driver's license or identification card by the Department of Public
Safety.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.009. VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) The voter registrar of each county shall
automatically register any county resident who is eligible to vote
as provided by Section 13.001 and:
(1) is issued a Texas driver's license or a personal
identification card by the Department of Public Safety; or
(2) makes a change to a Texas driver's license or
personal identification card issued by the Department of Public
Safety.
(b) A driver's license or personal identification card
transaction with an indication provided by Section 20.062(b) or
20.063(c) that the transaction is not for voter registration
purposes is not subject to this section.
SECTION 2. Section 20.061, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 20.061. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS. The other
provisions of this chapter apply to the Department of Public Safety
except provisions that conflict with this subchapter or Section
13.009.
SECTION 3. Section 20.062(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The department shall prescribe and use a change of
address form and procedure that combines department and voter
registration functions. The form must allow a licensee or
cardholder to indicate that [whether] the change of address is not
[also to be used] for voter registration purposes.
SECTION 4. Section 20.063, Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 20.063. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. (a) The Department
of Public Safety shall consider an application made in person, by
mail, or online at the department's Internet website [provide to
each person who applies in person at the department's offices] for
an original or renewal of a driver's license, a personal
identification card, or a duplicate or corrected license or card by
a person who is eligible to vote as provided by Section 13.001 an
application for [opportunity to complete a] voter registration.
The date of application is considered to be the date of submission
to the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective
date of registration [application form].
(b) The Department of Public Safety shall consider a change
of address that relates to [When the department processes] a
license or card and that is submitted to [for renewal by mail,] the
department [shall deliver to the applicant by mail a voter
registration application form.
[(c) A change of address that relates to a license or card
and that is submitted to the department] in person, [or] by mail, or
online at the department's Internet website [serves] as a change in
[of address for] voter registration [unless the licensee or
cardholder indicates that the change is not for voter registration
purposes]. The date of submission of a change of address to a
department employee is considered to be the date of submission to
the voter registrar for the purpose of determining the effective
date of registration [only].
(c) The registration of an eligible [(d) If a completed]
voter as required by Subsections (a) and (b) is automatic unless the
person indicates that the transaction is not for voter
registration purposes [application submitted to a department
employee does not include the applicant's correct driver's license
number or personal identification card number, a department
employee shall enter the appropriate information on the
application. If a completed application does not include the
applicant's correct residence address or mailing address, a
department employee shall obtain the appropriate information from
the applicant and enter the information on the application].
SECTION 5. Section 20.065(b), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) Each weekday the department is regularly open for
business, the department shall electronically transfer to the
secretary of state the name and information designated by the
secretary of state for [of each person who completes a] voter
registration for each individual who is eligible to vote as
provided by Section 13.001 and applies in person, by mail, or online
at the department's Internet website for an original or renewal of a
driver's license, a personal identification card, or a duplicate or
corrected license or card [application submitted to the
department]. The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to
implement this subsection.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.