85R11522 JRJ-D     By: Bell H.B. No. 204     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 204:     By:  Laubenberg C.S.H.B. No. 204       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to placing the name of a deceased or ineligible candidate   for public office on the ballot.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 145.039, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 145.039.  DECEASED OR INELIGIBLE CANDIDATE'S NAME TO   APPEAR ON GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT. (a)  If a candidate dies or is   declared ineligible after the 74th day before election day, the   candidate's name shall be placed on the ballot.          (b)  The secretary of state by rule may establish a procedure   for issuing a certified notice to voters, to be included in the   balloting materials for early voting by mail and given to each voter   at each polling place during the early voting period and on election   day, that a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot has died   or been declared ineligible.          SECTION 2.  Section 145.065, Election Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 145.065.  DECEASED OR INELIGIBLE CANDIDATE'S NAME TO   APPEAR ON GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT. (a)  If a candidate dies or is   declared ineligible after the 74th day before election day, the   candidate's name shall be placed on the ballot.          (b)  The secretary of state by rule may establish a procedure   for issuing a certified notice to voters, to be included in the   balloting materials for early voting by mail and given to each voter   at each polling place during the early voting period and on election   day, that a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot has died   or been declared ineligible.          SECTION 3.  Section 145.096, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  The secretary of state by rule may establish a procedure   for issuing a certified notice to voters, to be included in the   balloting materials for early voting by mail and given to each voter   at each polling place during the early voting period and on election   day, that a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot has died   or been declared ineligible.          SECTION 4.  Section 172.058, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:          (d)  The secretary of state by rule may establish a procedure   for issuing a certified notice to voters, to be included in the   balloting materials for early voting by mail and given to each voter   at each polling place during the early voting period and on election   day, that a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot has died   or been declared ineligible.          SECTION 5.  Section 172.060, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  The secretary of state by rule may establish a procedure   for issuing a certified notice to voters, to be included in the   balloting materials for early voting by mail and given to each voter   at each polling place during the early voting period and on election   day, that a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot has died   or been declared ineligible.          SECTION 6.  Section 232.045, Election Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  The secretary of state by rule may establish a procedure   for issuing a certified notice to voters, to be included in the   balloting materials for early voting by mail and given to each voter   at each polling place during the early voting period and on election   day, that a candidate whose name is printed on the ballot has died   or been declared ineligible.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.