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.