By: Bernal (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 658          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2017;   May 10, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on State   Affairs; May 19, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to priority voting for voters with certain disabilities   substantially impairing mobility.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 63, Election Code, is amended by adding   Section 63.0013 to read as follows:          Sec. 63.0013.  ACCEPTING VOTERS WITH CERTAIN DISABILITIES.   (a) In this section, "mobility problem that substantially impairs a   person's ability to ambulate" has the meaning assigned by Section   681.001, Transportation Code.          (b)  An election officer may accept a person with a 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 one or more locations in each 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 63.0013, Election Code, an election officer   may give voting order priority to individuals with a 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."          (e)  A person assisting a voter in accordance with Section   64.032(c) may be accepted to vote concurrently with a person   accepted under Subsection (b) of this section at the voter's   request.           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *