85R1760 SRS-F
 
  By: Garcia S.B. No. 145
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a voter education program for high school seniors.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 31.013 to read as follows:
         Sec. 31.013.  VOTER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL
  SENIORS. (a) The secretary of state, in consultation with the
  commissioner of education, shall develop a nonpartisan voter
  education program designed to be presented to high school seniors.
         (b)  The voter education program developed under Subsection
  (a) must:
               (1)  provide information concerning:
                     (A)  the importance of voting;
                     (B)  the manner in which a person may register to
  vote in this state;
                     (C)  the manner in which a person may vote using
  the voting systems most commonly used in this state;
                     (D)  election dates, as provided under Chapter 41;
                     (E)  the hours polls are open;
                     (F)  early voting; and
                     (G)  how to determine the correct polling place;
  and
               (2)  provide an opportunity, during the period in which
  the program is being presented, for students to complete voter
  registration application forms.
         (c)  Once each year, at the request of an administrator of a
  public or private high school, the county clerk for the county in
  which the school is located, or the clerk's designee, may present
  the program to high school seniors at the school. The program must
  be presented at school during regular school hours.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.