H.B. No. 985

	AN ACT
	relating to the deadlines by which provisional ballots must be
	processed and the state canvass must be conducted for certain
	elections.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 65.051, Election Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
	(a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for an election held
	on the date of the general election for state and county officers,
	the early voting ballot board shall verify and count provisional
	ballots as provided by this subchapter not later than the 13th day
	after the date of the election.
	SECTION 2.  Section 65.052, Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 65.052.  DUTY OF VOTER REGISTRAR. The secretary of
	state shall prescribe procedures by which the voter registrar of
	the county in which a provisional ballot is cast shall provide
	assistance to the early voting ballot board in executing its
	authority under this subchapter. In an election described by
	Section 65.051(a-1), the procedures must allow for seven calendar
	days for the voter registrar to review a provisional voter's
	eligibility.
	SECTION 3.  Section 67.003, Election Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
	follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), each local
	canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at
	the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer not
	earlier than the eighth day or later than the 11th day after
	election day.
	(c)  In an election described by Section 65.051(a-1), the
	time for the local canvass may be set not later than the 14th day
	after election day.
	SECTION 4.  Section 67.012(a), Election Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(a)  The governor shall conduct the state canvass [not
	earlier than the 15th or later than the 30th day after election day]
	at the time set by the secretary of state:
	(1)  not earlier than the 15th or later than the 30th
	day after election day; or
	(2)  for an election described by Section 65.051(a-1),
	not earlier than the 18th or later than the 33rd day after election
	day.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 985 was passed by the House on May 3,
	2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 985 was passed by the Senate on May
	20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor