Bill Text: TX SB477 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to accommodating voters with a disability.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-18 - Effective immediately [SB477 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB477-Enrolled.html
S.B. No. 477 |
|
||
relating to accommodating voters with a disability. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 63.0015, Election Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (f) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(b) An election officer shall [ |
||
mobility problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to | ||
ambulate who is offering to vote before accepting others offering | ||
to vote at the polling place who arrived before the person. | ||
(c) Notice of the priority given to persons with a mobility | ||
problem that substantially impairs a person's ability to ambulate | ||
shall be posted: | ||
(1) at [ |
||
polling place where it can be read by persons waiting to vote; | ||
(2) on the Internet website of the secretary of state; | ||
and | ||
(3) on each Internet website relating to elections | ||
maintained by a county. | ||
(d) The notice required by Subsection (c) must read: | ||
"Pursuant to Section 63.0015, Election Code, an election officer | ||
shall [ |
||
mobility problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to | ||
move around. A person assisting an individual with a mobility | ||
problem may also, at the individual's request, be given voting | ||
order priority. Disabilities and conditions that may qualify you | ||
for voting order priority include paralysis, lung disease, the use | ||
of portable oxygen, cardiac deficiency, severe limitation in the | ||
ability to walk due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic | ||
condition, wheelchair confinement, arthritis, foot disorder, the | ||
inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, or use of a | ||
brace, cane, crutch, or other assistive device." | ||
(f) All procedures and accommodations available for voters | ||
with disabilities, including voting under Section 64.009, shall be | ||
posted in an accessible manner on the county clerk's Internet | ||
website. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 64.009, Election Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) At each polling place an area for parking not smaller | ||
than the size of one parking space shall be reserved for voting | ||
under this section. The area may not be designated specifically for | ||
persons with disabilities. The area must be clearly marked with a | ||
sign: | ||
(1) indicating that the space is reserved for use by a | ||
voter who is unable to enter the polling place; and | ||
(2) displaying, in large font that is clearly readable | ||
from a vehicle, a telephone number that a voter may call or text to | ||
request assistance from an election officer at the polling place. | ||
(a-2) As an alternative to displaying a telephone number | ||
under Subsection (a-1)(2), a parking space may comply with the | ||
requirements of this section by providing the voter with a button or | ||
intercom that the voter may use to request assistance from an | ||
election officer. | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 84, Election Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 84.0121 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 84.0121. CLERK TO POST APPLICATION FORM ONLINE. (a) | ||
The early voting clerk shall post the official application form for | ||
an early voting ballot on the clerk's Internet website, if the clerk | ||
maintains an Internet website, in a format that allows a person to | ||
easily complete the application directly on the website before | ||
printing. | ||
(b) The early voting clerk may use the application form | ||
provided by the secretary of state under Section 84.013 or the early | ||
voting clerk's own application form. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 84.013, Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 84.013. APPLICATION FORMS FURNISHED BY SECRETARY OF | ||
STATE. (a) The secretary of state shall maintain a supply of the | ||
official application forms for ballots to be voted by mail and shall | ||
furnish the forms in reasonable quantities without charge to | ||
individuals or organizations requesting them for distribution to | ||
voters. | ||
(b) The secretary of state shall provide a printable | ||
application for a ballot by mail in a format that complies with | ||
Section 84.0121(a) to the early voting clerk for use under that | ||
section. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 104.004(e), Election Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(e) If the voter is physically unable to enter the early | ||
voting polling place without personal assistance or a likelihood of | ||
injuring the voter's health, the clerk shall deliver the balloting | ||
materials to the voter at the polling place entrance or curb | ||
following the procedures prescribed by Section 64.009. | ||
SECTION 6. 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, 2023. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 477 passed the Senate on | ||
April 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that | ||
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 25, 2023, by the | ||
following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 477 passed the House, with | ||
amendments, on May 23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 109, | ||
Nays 25, four present not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |