87(1) SB 43 - Introduced version - Bill Text

	87S10039 TSS-D
	By:  Men  ndez, et al.	S.B.  No.  43

	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