TITLE: Relating to notifications given to a person convicted of a felony concerning the person's eligibility to vote.

SUMMARY: Relating to notifications given to a person convicted of a felony concerning the person's eligibility to vote.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to notifications given to a person convicted of a felony concerning the person's eligibility to vote. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 42.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Section 6 to read as follows: Sec. 6. The court after pronouncing the sentence of a defendant convicted of a felony shall inform the defendant, in writing using clear language, of how the felony conviction will impact the defendant's right to vote in this state. SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 15.029 to read as follows: Sec. 15.029. NOTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY BY SECRETARY OF STATE. (a) This section applies to a person who is ineligible to vote in this state under Section 13.001(a)(4) because the person was finally convicted of a felony. (b) The secretary of state shall coordinate with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Public Safety, and any other relevant agency to determine when a person to whom this section applies has regained eligibility to vote in accordance with Section 13.001(a)(4)(A) or (B). (c) At the time a person to whom this section applies regains eligibility to vote, the secretary of state shall use best efforts to provide the person with: (1) a notice informing the person in plain language that the person may be eligible to register to vote, including instructions for registration; and (2) a voter registration application. (d) The secretary of state shall post on the secretary's Internet website a generic version of the notice described by Subsection (c)(1). (e) The secretary of state shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this section. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.