Bill Text: TX HB986 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the language in which a ballot to be voted by mail is printed.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-29 - Considered in Calendars [HB986 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB986-Introduced.html
| 83R3852 ATP-F | ||
| By: Elkins | H.B. No. 986 | |
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| relating to the language in which a ballot to be voted by mail is | ||
| printed. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 84.014 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 84.014. APPLICATION FOR BALLOT IN ELECTION IN WHICH | ||
| BALLOT IS REQUIRED TO BE PRINTED IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. | ||
| (a) For an election in which ballots to be voted by mail are | ||
| required to be printed in two or more languages other than English, | ||
| the secretary of state shall prescribe procedures, including the | ||
| modification, as appropriate, of the officially prescribed | ||
| application form for an early voting ballot so that: | ||
| (1) the applicant for the ballot may indicate on the | ||
| application the printed language the applicant desires for the | ||
| ballot; and | ||
| (2) if the applicant does not indicate on the | ||
| application a preference for the ballot to be provided in a | ||
| particular language, the ballot shall be provided to the applicant | ||
| in English. | ||
| (b) The early voting clerk shall provide the applicant with | ||
| a ballot in the language indicated on the application if that | ||
| language is required to be used for ballots in the election or, if | ||
| no language is indicated, provide the ballot to the applicant in | ||
| English. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 272.006(b), Election Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (b) If a separate translation of the ballot is made under | ||
| Subsection (a), the translation must be furnished to each voter to | ||
| whom an early voting ballot to be voted by mail is provided. This | ||
| subsection does not apply to an election to which Section 84.014 | ||
| applies. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2013. | ||
