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AN ACT
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relating to certain high school students serving as early voting |
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clerks in an election. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-1) and (e) and amending Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b-1) A school district may adopt a policy excusing a |
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student from attending school for service as a student early voting |
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clerk in an election. |
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(d) A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b), |
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(b-1), (b-2), or (c) may not be penalized for that absence and shall |
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be counted as if the student attended school for purposes of |
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calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school |
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district. A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b), |
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(b-1), [or] (b-2), or (c) shall be allowed a reasonable time to make |
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up school work missed on those days. If the student satisfactorily |
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completes the school work, the day of absence shall be counted as a |
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day of compulsory attendance. |
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(e) A school district may excuse a student for the purposes |
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provided by Subsections (b)(1)(E) and (b-1) for a maximum of two |
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days in a school year. |
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SECTION 2. Section 33.092, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.092. STUDENT ELECTION CLERKS AND EARLY VOTING |
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CLERKS. A student who is appointed as a student election clerk |
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under Section 32.0511, Election Code, or as a student early voting |
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clerk under Section 83.012, Election Code, may apply the time |
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served as a student election clerk or student early voting clerk |
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toward: |
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(1) a requirement for a school project at the |
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discretion of the teacher who assigned the project; or |
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(2) a service requirement for participation in an |
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advanced academic course program at the discretion of the program |
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sponsor or a school-sponsored extracurricular activity at the |
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discretion of the school sponsor. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 83, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 83.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 83.012. STUDENT EARLY VOTING CLERKS. (a) The early |
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voting clerk may appoint student early voting clerks as necessary |
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to assist the early voting clerk. |
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(b) A person is eligible to serve as a student early voting |
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clerk under this section if the person is ineligible to serve as a |
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clerk of an election precinct under Section 32.051(c) but meets the |
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eligibility requirements to be a student election clerk under |
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Section 32.0511. |
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(c) A student early voting clerk serving under this section: |
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(1) is entitled to compensation under Section 83.052 |
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in the same manner as other early voting clerks; and |
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(2) when communicating with a voter who cannot |
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communicate in English, may communicate with the voter in a |
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language the voter and the clerk understand as authorized by |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 61. |
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(d) Not more than four student early voting clerks may serve |
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at an early voting polling place. |
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(e) The secretary of state may initiate or assist in the |
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development of a statewide program promoting the use of student |
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early voting clerks appointed under this section. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 553 passed the Senate on |
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March 27, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 553 passed the House on |
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May 20, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, two |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |