Bill Text: TX SB83 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to prohibited deceptive or disenfranchising practices regarding an election; providing penalties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-26 - Referred to State Affairs [SB83 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB83-Introduced.html
  84R608 ATP-D
 
  By: Ellis S.B. No. 83
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibited deceptive or disenfranchising practices
  regarding an election; providing penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 61, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 61.015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 61.015.  UNLAWFULLY RESTRICTING VOTER'S RIGHT TO VOTE.
  (a) An election officer commits an offense if the officer
  knowingly:
               (1)  removes the name of an eligible voter from the list
  of registered voters or the poll list for the precinct;
               (2)  refuses to accept for voting a person whose
  acceptance is required by this code; or
               (3)  prevents the deposit in the ballot box of a marked
  and properly folded ballot that was provided at the polling place to
  the voter who is depositing it or for whom the deposit is attempted.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 61, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C. DECEPTIVE ELECTION PRACTICES
         Sec. 61.061.  DECEPTIVE ELECTION PRACTICES PROHIBITED. A
  person may not knowingly deceive another person regarding:
               (1)  the time, place, or manner of conducting an
  election in this state; or
               (2)  the qualifications for or restrictions governing
  voter eligibility for an election in this state.
         Sec. 61.062.  CRIMINAL OFFENSE.  (a)  A person commits an
  offense if the person violates Section 61.061 with the intent to
  prevent another person from:
               (1)  voting in an election; or
               (2)  casting a ballot that may legally be counted.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
         Sec. 61.063.  REPORT TO SECRETARY OF STATE; ACTION BY
  SECRETARY. (a) A person may report a suspected violation of
  Section 61.061 to the secretary of state through the voting rights
  hotline or otherwise.
         (b)  Not later than 48 hours after receiving the report, the
  secretary of state shall:
               (1)  refer the matter to the attorney general as
  provided by Section 31.006 if the secretary determines that there
  is reasonable cause to suspect that a criminal offense has been
  committed; and
               (2)  take any action determined necessary to provide
  correct information to the voters affected by the violation.
         (c)  The secretary of state shall adopt rules regarding the
  method of taking corrective action under Subsection (b)(2).
         Sec. 61.064.  CIVIL ACTION. The attorney general or a person
  harmed by a violation of Section 61.061 may bring a civil action for
  relief against a person who violates that section, including an
  action seeking a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining
  order, or other appropriate order.
         Sec. 61.065.  REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. (a) Not later than
  February 1 of each year, the secretary of state shall submit a
  report to the legislature regarding the reported violations of
  Section 61.061 during the preceding calendar year.
         (b)  The report must include:
               (1)  the number of reports of violations received;
               (2)  the number of alleged violations referred to the
  attorney general;
               (3)  a description of the corrective actions taken
  under Section 61.063(b)(2);
               (4)  the geographic locations of and populations
  affected by the alleged violations; and
               (5)  any other information considered appropriate by
  the secretary of state.
         (c)  The secretary of state may withhold specific
  information from a report under this section if the secretary
  determines that the disclosure of that information would unduly
  interfere with an ongoing investigation.
         SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 63.012, Election Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 63.012.  UNLAWFULLY ACCEPTING [OR REFUSING TO ACCEPT]
  VOTER.
         SECTION 4.  Section 63.012(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  An election officer commits an offense if the officer
  knowingly[:
               [(1)]  permits an ineligible voter to vote other than
  as provided by Section 63.011[; or
               [(2)     refuses to accept a person for voting whose
  acceptance is required by this code].
         SECTION 5.  The heading to Section 64.010, Election Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 64.010.  UNLAWFULLY PERMITTING [OR PREVENTING] DEPOSIT
  OF BALLOT.
         SECTION 6.  Section 64.010(a), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  An election officer commits an offense if the officer[:
               [(1)] permits a person to deposit in the ballot box a
  ballot that the officer knows was not provided at the polling place
  to the voter who is depositing the ballot or for whom the deposit is
  made[; or
               [(2)     prevents the deposit in the ballot box of a marked
  and properly folded ballot that was provided at the polling place to
  the voter who is depositing it or for whom the deposit is
  attempted].
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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