Bill Text: TX SB146 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-25 - Referred to State Affairs [SB146 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB146-Introduced.html

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85R2615 JRJ-D
By: Garcia S.B. No. 146

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to automatic update of 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. Section 13.0021, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A federal judge or state judge or the spouse of a federal
judge or state judge for whom voter registration is updated under
Section 13.009 and who seeks to have a residence address omitted
from the registration list shall submit an affidavit to the voter
registrar stating that the individual is a federal judge or state
judge or the spouse of a federal judge or state judge.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Election Code, is
amended by adding Section 13.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 13.009. UPDATE OF VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) The secretary of state shall
update the statewide voter registration list and notify the
appropriate voter registrar of a change in registration information
for any individual who is a registered voter 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 3. Section 18.061(c), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) Under procedures prescribed by the secretary of state,
the Department of Public Safety and each voter registrar shall
provide to the secretary of state on an expedited basis the
information necessary to maintain the registration list
established under Subsection (a). The procedures shall provide for
the electronic submission of the information.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. Section 20.063(c), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(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 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].
SECTION 7. 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 individual [person] who completes
a voter registration application submitted to the department and
for each individual who is a registered voter 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.
The secretary shall prescribe procedures necessary to implement
this subsection.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.